wooow

compagniadelgiardinaggio.it

 

Beautiful Stag beetle.

 

I think that the picture is great for a start, but i wouldn't want one of those down my shirt...

 

That is a magnificent study Miraflores. The wonder of Nature in all its glory,
thank you,
Jenny

 

One of my old girlfriends was terrified of them, we were sat in a crowded pub beer garden one summers evening when one flew twice round the garden & then chose to land on her back.

Try getting something with hooks for feet off a woolen jumper being worn by a hysterical woman

 

where I come from (Turin area more or less) we have these cuties called
"flying deer" (Lucanus cervus):


he can be seen in the evening-night in areas with lots of chestnuts and oaks.


This is a male specimen. In spite of the size (males 8cm and heavy!) and scary aspect he doesn't bite but then you don't want to cross his way when he flies (mamma mia) - they are a bit like a plane landing on a runway.

Anyway, here is some information:
You do not need much imagination to see where derives its name! The large jaws of male unequivocally refer to the boxes of the noble ungulate.
They have the same function: dueling with opponents to compete for females. The rivals face off in a battle that is rarely fatal, but often leaves indelible marks, the force of the jaws is such that the median tooth can pierce the thick elytra! The battles take place in several meters from the ground, on the branches or trunks of huge oaks, often dripping sap, a meeting place with the coveted female. The fight ends when one of the two men can lift the other and lets it fall on deaf ears. At this point is free to take possession of his prize. If the female does not agree he thinks her to accept the advances: the sticks his head with his jaws preventing escape.
And 'one of the biggest beetle fauna of European males than 8cm quietly and females on average totaled about 4cm. There is tremendous variability, and together with the giant males there are many other smaller around 5-6cm which have mandibles less impressive.

Evident is the sexual dimorphism, besides the size affects the remarkable development of the head of males, in relation to the growth of the jaws. In fact, the expansion anchor the back of the head is powerful jaw muscles. There are also different proportions of the limbs. Females have shorter legs and stocky it takes to dig at the base of the stumps of dead trees, which will lay several dozen eggs.
They have a host range of different deciduous trees (including beech, willow, poplar and chestnut) but the essence is undoubtedly the favorite oak.

Larval development is very long, the small larvae take several years to grow (the wood is not very nutritious). Those who will become the biggest specimens can take up to eight years as larvae. Reached maturity, you create a pupal case with wood and soil, and after a short period of pupa are transformed into adults, but spend the winter within the cocoon.

Only in early spring, you can watch them. Already by the end of May scanning the canopy of large oak trees you can see them. Tend to focus on old trees that spring sap. There, in the company of cetonie [Mod note, Rose Chaffers] and hornets, feasting collecting vegetable juice with a special brush. Do not disdain the ripe fruit if they were.
Are insects that move at dusk, with a heavy flight and noisy. In air are forced to assume a characteristic pose to L, with the abdomen held vertically below the head, to balance the bulky mandibles.

Despite the long larval period adult life is very short. Spend a few weeks fighting and getting drunk on sap. Often survive even less. In fact, the size and aggressiveness do not scare some predators, which, like foxes, they see them in a simple and hearty meal. Often find the remains of the abdomen chewed and spat, while the noble head is left intact, almost like a trophy. They are also very welcome by nocturnal predators such as owls, which is not very hard to catch them during their slow flight.
And 'common in central and northern, southern and reporting more for the region. Absent from the islands. It 'a significant reduction in reported species, and is therefore included in the Habitats Directive of the Berne Convention, in addition to prohibit the collection, it protects the habitat. In fact, the problem of its decline is due to the disappearance of mature deciduous forests, with the presence of large dead trees left in place where the female can lay.

 

Great article Miraflores

 

Fantastic Miraflores

 

Very interesting insight, loved reading all that. And we thought our life was a bit of a bummer some days......
thank you Miraflores,
Jenny

 

I feel like a celebrity now...

 

I'll go out & try to catch one for you