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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Scarabaeoidea » Stag Beetles (Lucanidae) » Lucaninae » Platycerini » Platycerus » Oak Stag Beetle (Platycerus quercus)
Photo#15831
Stag Beetle Larva in place - Platycerus quercus
Copyright © 2005 Cotinis

Stag Beetle Larva in place - Platycerus quercus
Parkwood, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
April 16, 2005
Size: circa 25 mm
This is one of three stag beetle larvae I found inside the tunnels of Bess Beetles, Odontotaenius disjunctus, in the same small log. It is possible this was actually a grub of Platycerus virescens, which later emerged from this mass of soil:

This grub was a smaller individual (about 25 mm?, originally listed here in error as 40 mm) than the one of which I took a series of photos, presumed to be a Lucanus:



Based on what came out of this mass, I'm going to move this grub photo to its place alongside its presumed adult. This seems plausible, and better than leaving under Lucanus, where the larger larvae belong.
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Contributed by Cotinis on 28 April, 2005 - 5:10am
Last updated 22 November, 2011 - 7:49pm

40mm sounds too big.
40mm sounds too big.
… Ryan T. Minard, 22 November, 2011 - 5:13pm login or register to post comments

 
agreed
You are correct--that sounds like it was the size of the larger grub. This smaller one was perhaps 25 mm. I don't believe I made measurements, but I'll change the length to a more plausible size.
… Cotinis, 22 November, 2011 - 7:49pm login or register to post comments

 
I have seen both Lucanus and
I have seen both Lucanus and Platycerus larvae. I believe I've seen Dorcus brevis larvae as well. Those are rare :). You could probably find them as you are in NC (I'm in SC... Hey Neighbor!).
… Ryan T. Minard, 23 November, 2011 - 2:17am login or register to post comments

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