nature Two male Stag-beetles squaring up to wrestle. The larger will undoubtedly win!
Big Blundering Beetles
By Mik
e Geo r ge
Mike George is our regular contributor on wildlife and the countryside in France. He is a geologist and naturalist, living in the Jurassic area of the Charente
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE PEACE OF OUR GARDEN EXISTENCE CAN BE SHATTERED BY THE ARRIVAL OF SOMETHING LARGE, HARD, AND FLYING ERRATICALLY
T
he big beetles are amongst us again, bringing dismay and, let’s face it, fear to those who have never had much to do with them. So let us look at some of the largest, in the hope that understanding will put fear to rest. The Stag Beetle By far the most imposing is the Stag Beetle Lucanus cervus (Fr: Cerf volant). The male is about the size of a 48-match box with the drawer extended, while the female is not much smaller. It is the male, though,
with his unbelievable horns curving forward from his head, that causes the main worry.
frighten another male Stag Beetle. Two males will square off and indulge in a Sumo-style wrestling match until one (usually the larger) pushes his opponent Of course, these extensions are not horns off the branch they are fighting on. This at all – they are the male’s gives the winner the jaws. Now you are really right to all the best Two males will square off females. However, worried! This is a flying and indulge in a Sumothere is a trade-off. pair of pliers! This could do style wrestling match Those jaws are no use me serious damage! at all for eating, In point of fact, those jaws are incapable of certainly not chewing up solid food. The delivering a bite – the muscles are just not poor old male Stag Beetle has to rely on strong enough. They are only intended to finding and drinking some nutritious fluid
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