Lesser Stag Beetle
Dorcus parallelipipedus
The adult is a dark, flattened beetle found under bark, in log piles, around old trees, and sometimes in gardens with dead wood. It is mostly nocturnal, feeding little as an adult and relying heavily on the reserves built up during the larval stage. Its tough elytra and compact body help it squeeze under bark and withstand rough contact, while the mandibles are used for gripping and shoving rivals. Unlike the larger stag beetle, both sexes are modest in size, but males still have noticeably broader jaws.
- Type
- Shell
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Lesser Stag Beetle