Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events


TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#42715
Lucanus placidus - female

Lucanus placidus - Female
City garden with sandy soil, Central Minnesota County, Minnesota, USA
June 16, 2005
Size: unknown
This beetle was rescued from under the fabric, some of them really had a rough time in there, a very realistic shot.
Note the distinctive comb like antenae, the small pointed jaws with just one tooth, and the strong tibia. Tarsi are missing, presumably left behind in the fabric.

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

Thanks for bringing fabric hazards to light.
We have unwittingly destroyed stag beetle habitat by covering buried stumps or logs with landscaping fabric for weed suppression. Fortunately, as your Web site illuminates, we have also unwittingly created stag beetle habitat by building up successive layers of hardwood woodchips on playgrounds and trails.

 
More about landscaping fabric
Indeed. In England, where I live, there have been known instances of Lucanus cervus being trapped under it.
The PTES brochure says:
"Avoid using polythene sheeting covered with bark chippings or garden fleece as a way of controlling weeds. Newly emerging adult beetles can get trapped beneath it in the spring and die."
I do use some of that membrane in my allotment, and have noticed that other beetles have been caught in its top. Very unfortunately, last summer, several beautiful Cetonia aurata, the allotment jewels, got caught in it in my compost bin, which was lined with the fabric. Alas they have never laid their eggs, their lovely larvae like breeding in compost. I've learned a lesson and I shall never line my compost frame with this fabric again.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.