Family Lucanidae | Order Coleoptera Genus Lucanus Rank Species | |
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Similar Lucanus placidus, Lucanus elaphus, Lucanus mazama, Lucaninae, Lucanus | ||
Lucanus capreolus find
Lucanus capreolus (commonly known as reddish-brown stag beetle) is a beetle of the family Lucanidae. The specific name capreolus is derived from Latin, meaning "roe deer" (capreolus literally means "little goat"). The name refers to the resemblance of the antennae to deer antlers.
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Description
A relatively large lucanid beetle of the genus Lucanus, the male has long, curved upper jaws, resembling a sickle. The larvae are found in the trunks of old trees, feeding on the inner wood. It is dark reddish brown in color with smooth, shiny elytra; the femora are orange-brown. Males have much larger jaws than females. Jaws of males are not as large as those of Lucanus elaphus. The smaller L. placidus has two or more teeth on its jaws and has dark femora. It is 22–35 mm long.
The species was originally described by Linnaeus as Scarabaeus capreolus in 1763. (orig. comb.). Other known synonyms are:
As with most of the species of the Lucanidae, sexual dimorphism is pronounced, and the male of Lucanus capreolus is larger than the female and armed with the antennae in the form of antlers.
Habitat
It lives in deciduous forests and adjacent areas in the Eastern United States and some parts of Canada. It can be found around decaying logs and stumps, where it breeds. Males use mandibles to fight at breeding sites. Eggs are deposited in rotting wood. Larvae live in decaying wood of deciduous trees. Larvae reportedly take two years to develop, and pupate in nearby soil. They are attracted to lights at night. They have been found in captivity to make burrows and nest in soil and mulch.
