Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Platycerus virescens (Fabricius 1775) (Lucanus)
Lucanus quercus Weber 1801
Platycerus securidens Say 1823
Platycerus scaritoides Sturm 1843
Platycerus angustus Casey 1909
Platycerus iowanus Casey 1909
Platycerus peregrinus Casey 1909
Identification
A small oblong stag beetle, reddish brown to blackish, may have brassy or greenish color. Male has mandibles as long as head--those of female shorter. Eyes entire, not with
canthus almost dividing them, as in
Dorcus (1).
Range
North America east of Rockies
(2).
Season
March-May (North Carolina)
Food
Adults sometimes come to flowers, such as blackberry
(1).
Life Cycle
Associated with rotting logs.
See Also
Related, generally larger stag beetles of genus
Dorcus.
Ground beetles of genus
Scarites are superficially similar. Note clubbed antennae of
Platycerus versus thread-like, or beaded, antennae of
Scarites:
Print References
Dillon, p. 569, plate 56 #1
(1)
White, p. 136--description
(2)
Sikes, p. 119, lists for Rhode Island, along with P. piceus
(3)
Brimley, p. 209--P. quercus
(4)Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection--lists 44 pinned, only member of its genus listed for that state.
Stag Beetles of Oklahoma--has key with linked diagrams
Generic Guide to New World Scarabs--
species account
