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Photo#23219
Stag Beetle Larva

Stag Beetle Larva
Parkwood, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
July 2, 2005
Size: 40 mm
I've been attempting to culture the three stag beetles I found inside a rotting log in April. I've been keeping them in a mix of rotting wood and mature compost. This I keep in a large bucket outdoors in the shade. I dumped out the mix to check on them on July 3, and two of the three had formed apparent pupation chambers. I broke one open by accident, and took photos. I returned this, the unbroken chamber, and the free grub to a container with more compost and rotting wood. I'll watch them, and hope for an adult either this summer or next. Originally I thought this was a Lucanus, but given its small size (40 mm) and emergence of this adult from the batch later:


I'm presuming it is actually a Platycerus. This photo shows the same, or another grub in one of its tunnels (also assoc. with Bess Beetles) when found:


Photo of one of this batch of larvae when found originally--a much larger grub--about 55 mm and more robust, presumably a Lucanus:


Probably another genus
Moved from Oak Stag Beetle. Platycerus larvae shouldn't get to 40 mm.

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