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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles (Scarabaeoidea) » Stag Beetles (Lucanidae) » Lucanus » Giant Stag Beetle (Lucanus elaphus)
Photo#4466
Giant Stag Beetle - Lucanus elaphus - female
Copyright © 2004 Cotinis

Giant Stag Beetle - Lucanus elaphus - Female
Durham County, North Carolina, USA
June 19, 2004
Size: 30 mm
This female L. elaphus was found under a light, about 10:00 p.m. This photo shows the remarkable defensive posture taken by the beetle as I placed it on a foam rubber pad (gently) for photography.

Length, excluding mandibles, was measured at about 30 mm, including mandibles it was about 34 mm. Female of this species is similar to Lucanus (Pseudolucanus) capreolus. It can be told apart by the dark femora, the multiple teeth on jaws, and the very smooth, not punctate, pronotum. Note also the rather pointed labrum, which is more rounded in Lucanus capreolus (see comments below). Compare this female Lucanus capreoulus:



Released in suitable habitat after this photo session.

Images of this individual: tag all
Giant Stag Beetle - Lucanus elaphus - female Giant Stag Beetle - Lucanus elaphus - female
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Contributed by Cotinis on 29 June, 2004 - 4:02pm
Last updated 6 April, 2006 - 1:56pm

L. elaphus females
This photo shows a good character for identifying female L. elaphus. The labrum (front of the head between the mandibles) is only pointed and triangular in females of this species. Females of L. capreolus or L. placidus have this structure blunt and truncated (never pointed).

MJ Paulsen
… MJ Paulsen, 6 April, 2006 - 1:52pm login or register to post comments

Great pictures
Great pictures
… cannedmo, 30 June, 2004 - 8:38pm login or register to post comments

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