The Stag Beetle Natural History
Size
These beetles can grow up to 9cm.
Habitat and Distribution
They inhabit rainforests.
Diet
Stag Beetles feed on decaying wood as larvae and largely on leaves and fruit as adults.
Groups and Breeding
Females will lay their eggs directly in to the decaying logs underground to give their larvae both protection and food as soon as they hatch.
Threats
Whilst they are common in the wild they are frequently captured both for the pet trade as well as the dried, preserved insect collectors trade due to their size.
Interesting Facts
The males have large mandibles and the females do not. These mandibles resemble the antlers of deer stags, hence the name.
The Stag Beetle During Your Day Out in Kent
The Stag Beetles at Wingham Wildlife Park can be seen in the Bug Garden area of our park. This area is home to a wide variety of invertebrates including Red-clawed Crab, Tarantulas, cockraoches and stick insects to name but a few.
We also have giant artificial European Stag beetles in the outside area of our Bug Gardens for you to see.