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Photo#42712
Lucanus placidus

Lucanus placidus
City garden with sandy soil, Central Minnesota County, Minnesota, USA
June 16, 2005
Size: 19-32 mm
Rae Ann, who sent me this picture, wrote:
"We have been doing some landscaping around our house, and we are laying fabric down before laying rock (to control the weeds). One evening I heard a bunch of commotion under the fabric. When I peeled it back there were about 10 beetles. Most were in shallow holes - I could see their heads peeking out. 2 beetles were fighting. One beetle really caught my attention in its hole. It looked like it had bright red eyes!"
Wasn't it lucky that the landscaping was in its early stages and that someone had good hearing! Unfortunately these weed suppressing fabrics aren't wildlife friendly, a fact that has been observed in England where the PTES has a Stag Beetle Friendly Gardening brochure with Do's and Don'ts.
Of course, Rae Ann realizing this took great care over these beetles: "When I landscaped the area where the beetles were the most, I didn't use the fabric, and used wood chips instead of rock in that area. Hopefully that will help them out if they decide to come back!"

Images of this individual: tag all
Lucanus placidus Lucanus placidus - male Lucanus placidus Lucanus placidus - female Lucanus placidus Lucanus placidus Lucanus placidus - female Lucanus placidus vs Lucanus capreolus - Lucanus placidus

great series
this is what Bugguide does best.

 
I agree
I really enjoyed looking at this photo-story. Thanks for posting!

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

 
Photo-story now completed
Above all I wish to thank Rae Ann for being so willing to share the most interesting observations and pictures with all of us ;-)
I must say that it took me a while to come to the conclusion that the Bugguide was a much better place for posting such interesting species than my very simple website. It makes much better geographical sense as well, and it was very nice to get such quick and positive response ;-)

 
Additional anecdote
I found a male of this species last summer along a river in Kentucky. It was under a piece of "driftwood" on a sandy beach. I was quite surprised to find it there.

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