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Photo#15822
Stag Beetle Larva - Lucanus

Stag Beetle Larva - Lucanus
Parkwood, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
April 16, 2005
Size: 55 mm
Frontal view, showing jaws and anal opening, which I think is Y-shaped, or maybe T-shaped. It does appear to be surrounded by two fleshy lobes. See Scarabaeoid Indentification Guide: Lucanidae--By Brett C. Ratcliffe and M.J. Paulsen. Excerpts quoted below:

Larvae. Form scarabaeiform (c-shaped, subcylindrical). Color creamy-white or yellowish (except at caudal end which may be darkened by accumulated feces). Cranium heavily sclerotized, lightly pigmented. Antennae 3-4 segmented, last segment greatly reduced in size....Anal opening Y-shaped or longitudinal, surrounded by 2 fleshy lobes. Legs 4-segmented. Stridulatory apparatus on meso- and metathoracic legs present; claws present.

Images of this individual: tag all
Stag Beetle Larva - Lucanus Stag Beetle Larva - Lucanus Stag Beetle Larva - Lucanus Stag Beetle Larva--detail of stridulatory apparatus - Lucanus Stag Beetle Larva--detail of stridulatory apparatus - Lucanus

Anal opening
In this picture it does look Y-shaped or longitudinal, they always are in the Lucanidae. However in this page it does't say so.

 
Tricky wording..
OK, I wrote the offending language on the guide page! I'll change it to the more comprehensive, "Anal opening Y-shaped or longitudinal, surrounded by 2 fleshy lobes." That seems to cover it. Let me know if you think it is still confusing.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

 
I'm afraid it still is...
Patrick, transverse means crosswise like in this larva.
By the way, did you get any of these larvae to pupate successfully? If so we would like to know the results, please. I will soon post someone else's Lucanus capreolus larva and pupa. Following my correspondence with you I've decided to update my site in tandem with the Bugguide from now on. Have you seen the Lucanus placidus photo-story yet?

 
Roger that!
Roger that, I do know the difference between transverse and logitudinal, when I am not being a space cadet. Will fix it. One reference I had did use the term "transverse", and I was just copying without thinking.

Thanks for your help!

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina