Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies.[1] Some species grow to over 12 centimetres (4+1⁄2 inches), but most to about 5 cm (2 in).
The English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the males of most species, which resemble the antlers of stags.
A well-known species in much of Europe is Lucanus cervus, referred to in some European countries (including the United Kingdom) as the stag beetle; it is the largest terrestrial insect in Europe. Pliny the Elder noted that Nigidius called the beetle lucanus after the Italian region of Lucania where they were used as amulets. The scientific name of Lucanus cervus adds cervus, deer.
Male stag beetles are known for their oversize mandibles used to wrestle each other for favoured mating sites in a way that parallels the way stags fight over females. Fights may also be over food, such as tree sap and decaying fruits. Despite their often fearsome appearance, they are not normally aggressive to humans. During a battle between the two males, the main objective is to dislodge its opponent's tarsal claws with its mandible, thus disrupting their balance. Because its mandibles are capable of exceeding its own body size, stag beetles are generally inefficient runners and are very slow, and typically feel the need to fly from one location to another. [2]
Female stag beetles are usually smaller than the males, with smaller mandibles that are much more powerful than the males'.[3] As larvae, females are distinguished by their cream-coloured, fat ovaries visible through the skin around two-thirds of the way down their back.
The larvae feed for several years on rotting wood, growing through three larval stages until eventually pupating inside a pupal cell constructed from surrounding wood pieces and soil particles. In the final larval stage, "L3", the surviving grubs of larger species, such as Prosopocoilus giraffa, may be the size of a human finger.
In England’s New Forest, it was once believed that the stag beetle, dubbed the "devil's imp", was sent to do some evil to the corn crops. The superstition led to stoning the insects on sight, as observed by a writer in the Notes and Queries.[4] Along with rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles are often bought as pets in South Korea and Japan.[5][6]
Evolutionedit
The oldest known fossil of the group is Juraesalus from the late Middle Jurassic (Callovian) Daohugou Beds of Inner Mongolia, China. While initially interpreted as a member of Aesalinae, it was later interpreted to be a basal member of the family.[7]
The Lucanidae males have large antlers. Their size often varies among individuals. Such variation is termed a scaling relationship or static allometry. Environmental conditions and genetic factors affect antler size.[citation needed]
Referencesedit
^Smith, A.B.T. (2006). A review of the family-group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) with corrections to nomenclature and a current classification. The Coleopterists Bulletin 60:144–204.
^:Goyens J, Van Wassenbergh S, Dirckx J, Aerts P. 2015 Cost of flight and the evolution of stag beetle weaponry. J. R. Soc. Interface 12: 20150222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2015.0222
^(PDF). wildlondon.org.uk. London Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
^Cowan, Frank (December 15, 2012). "Curious Facts in the History of Insects; Including Spiders and Scorpions, by Frank Cowan—A Project Gutenberg eBook". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
^"[남상호 자연 다큐/곤충 세계 여행④]곤충도 '황금알'을 낳는다". 시사저널 (in Korean). 2001-09-28. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
^Lombardi, Linda (26 May 2014). . tofugu.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^Kim, Sang Il; Farrell, Brian D. (May 2015). "Phylogeny of world stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) reveals a Gondwanan origin of Darwin's stag beetle". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 86: 35–48. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.02.015. PMID 25732069.
External linksedit
Data related to Lucanidae at Wikispecies
Media related to Lucanidae at Wikimedia Commons
Images
Stag beetle info Research site containing much information on the stag beetle as well as information on current conservation schemes.
M.J. Paulsen. . Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2007-09-14. Checklist of New World stag beetles with links to pages with additional information and images.
Toma Libich. "Goliathus.com: gallery of Lucanidae".
. Archived from the original on 2006-10-20.
J M Maes. "Biodiversity: section on Lucanidae with a world catalogue and a world bibliography".
Asahinet Stag beetles on postage stamps and species illustrations.
stag, beetle, family, about, species, beetles, family, lucanidae, currently, classified, four, subfamilies, some, species, grow, over, centimetres, inches, most, about, temporal, range, middle, jurassic, recent, preꞒ, male, specimen, lamprima, aurata, otherwis. Stag beetles are a family of about 1 200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae currently classified in four subfamilies 1 Some species grow to over 12 centimetres 4 1 2 inches but most to about 5 cm 2 in Stag beetleTemporal range Middle Jurassic Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NA male specimen of Lamprima aurata otherwise known as the golden stagbeetleScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder ColeopteraSuborder PolyphagaInfraorder ScarabaeiformiaSuperfamily ScarabaeoideaFamily LucanidaeLatreille 1804SubfamiliesAesalinaeLampriminaeLucaninaeSyndesinae Contents 1 Overview 2 Evolution 3 Antler allometry 4 References 5 External linksOverview edit nbsp Dorcus curvidens male left and female right nbsp Paralissotes sp illustrated by Des HelmoreSee also Taxonomy of LucanidaeThe English name is derived from the large and distinctive mandibles found on the males of most species which resemble the antlers of stags A well known species in much of Europe is Lucanus cervus referred to in some European countries including the United Kingdom as the stag beetle it is the largest terrestrial insect in Europe Pliny the Elder noted that Nigidius called the beetle lucanus after the Italian region of Lucania where they were used as amulets The scientific name of Lucanus cervus adds cervus deer Male stag beetles are known for their oversize mandibles used to wrestle each other for favoured mating sites in a way that parallels the way stags fight over females Fights may also be over food such as tree sap and decaying fruits Despite their often fearsome appearance they are not normally aggressive to humans During a battle between the two males the main objective is to dislodge its opponent s tarsal claws with its mandible thus disrupting their balance Because its mandibles are capable of exceeding its own body size stag beetles are generally inefficient runners and are very slow and typically feel the need to fly from one location to another 2 Female stag beetles are usually smaller than the males with smaller mandibles that are much more powerful than the males 3 As larvae females are distinguished by their cream coloured fat ovaries visible through the skin around two thirds of the way down their back The larvae feed for several years on rotting wood growing through three larval stages until eventually pupating inside a pupal cell constructed from surrounding wood pieces and soil particles In the final larval stage L3 the surviving grubs of larger species such as Prosopocoilus giraffa may be the size of a human finger In England s New Forest it was once believed that the stag beetle dubbed the devil s imp was sent to do some evil to the corn crops The superstition led to stoning the insects on sight as observed by a writer in the Notes and Queries 4 Along with rhinoceros beetles stag beetles are often bought as pets in South Korea and Japan 5 6 Evolution editThe oldest known fossil of the group is Juraesalus from the late Middle Jurassic Callovian Daohugou Beds of Inner Mongolia China While initially interpreted as a member of Aesalinae it was later interpreted to be a basal member of the family 7 Antler allometry edit nbsp Antler allometry in Prosopocoilus savageiThe Lucanidae males have large antlers Their size often varies among individuals Such variation is termed a scaling relationship or static allometry Environmental conditions and genetic factors affect antler size citation needed References edit Smith A B T 2006 A review of the family group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea Coleoptera with corrections to nomenclature and a current classification The Coleopterists Bulletin 60 144 204 Goyens J Van Wassenbergh S Dirckx J Aerts P 2015 Cost of flight and the evolution of stag beetle weaponry J R Soc Interface 12 20150222 http dx doi org 10 1098 rsif 2015 0222 How to help stag beetles PDF wildlondon org uk London Wildlife Trust Archived from the original PDF on February 2 2017 Retrieved May 7 2017 Cowan Frank December 15 2012 Curious Facts in the History of Insects Including Spiders and Scorpions by Frank Cowan A Project Gutenberg eBook www gutenberg org Retrieved 2022 03 16 남상호 자연 다큐 곤충 세계 여행 곤충도 황금알 을 낳는다 시사저널 in Korean 2001 09 28 Retrieved 2020 07 26 Lombardi Linda 26 May 2014 How to Care for Your Beetle tofugu com Archived from the original on 6 March 2018 Retrieved 5 March 2018 Kim Sang Il Farrell Brian D May 2015 Phylogeny of world stag beetles Coleoptera Lucanidae reveals a Gondwanan origin of Darwin s stag beetle Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 86 35 48 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2015 02 015 PMID 25732069 External links edit nbsp Data related to Lucanidae at Wikispecies nbsp Media related to Lucanidae at Wikimedia Commons Flickr Images Stag beetle info Research site containing much information on the stag beetle as well as information on current conservation schemes M J Paulsen Annotated Checklist of the New World Lucanidae Archived from the original on 2012 02 07 Retrieved 2007 09 14 Checklist of New World stag beetles with links to pages with additional information and images Toma Libich Goliathus com gallery of Lucanidae Gallery of Lucanidae Archived from the original on 2006 10 20 J M Maes Biodiversity section on Lucanidae with a world catalogue and a world bibliography Asahinet Stag beetles on postage stamps and species illustrations Lucanes du Monde Image rich French blog TOL Archived 2008 09 16 at the Wayback Machine UNL Generic Guide to New World Scarabs Lucanidae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stag beetle amp oldid 1173381974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
