Last year OH and I removed a large completely dead apple tree from our garden, It could be pushed over, and in the end I did, after sawing off the large branches.
As soon as it unearthed itself we started to notice these huge grubs. They looked scary, and it soon dawned on us that they were stag beetle grubs. We carried on excavating the stump and found loads of them. We started to collect all the grubs we could, and rehoused the stump outside the back fence, buried in the ground - because it was obvious that loads of grubs/lava were still in the roots. We "rehoused" 40+ grubs back into the ground outside the fence with the original stump.
The area where the tree had been still had grubs in and as we were now on a mission to "save" the beetles, we left the area undisturbed. We put some top soil over the top and left it.
Well, over the last two weeks other mature SB started to emerge from this area, and tonight - The air was full of the bumbling adults, "after some!". They make a buzzing noise when they fly, and are unmistakable when you look up and see this these awkward clumsy, very large beetles fly.
I've got some pictures below... and wonder if the SBs are flying anywhere else in lottie land ?
1). An emerging male SB from last week. (http://www.gagging.to/images/stag/05052007071-small.jpg)
2). One of tonights mail emerging. (http://www.gagging.to/images/stag/23052007112-small.jpg)
3). Tonights female (http://www.gagging.to/images/stag/23052007115-small.jpg)
4). Another male one tonight (http://www.gagging.to/images/stag/23052007104-small.jpg)
Anyone else fascinated by these wonderful creatures ?
Riff...
Had something similar on the wall of my house last week and took a pic with my phone. I must download it to compare with yours. Nasty creatures, those claws look lethal.
Quote from: Riffster on May 24, 2007, 00:22:43
Anyone else fascinated by these wonderful creatures ?
angel shades will be. ;D
are they our friends or do they do untold damage ? would scare the pants off me ;D
The larvae feed on rotting wood, and they do no harm at all.
;D ;D
too right Mrs!!
I'm soooo jealous Riffster,and good for you for saving them,great pics /shadesx
They look horrible but hopefully, they are inoffensive. Live and let live I say. ;D ;)
they are absolutely inoffensive and they are not nasty at all!! in fact they are amazing. they have increased in numbers over the last few years i think, but for a while they were in trouble. if you see one on your travels please dont kill them, in fact if they are in a dangerous place like a pavement or suchlike i would urge you move it to a place of safety like a hedge or garden.
They're stunning! Great pictures Riff, specially that one crawling up out of the ground - like something out of a scifi film.
Your raised beds look rather fine too :)
An update: We went out into the garden last night, and again the beetles were "flying". What appears to happen is that females take up residence in a tree, and the Males circle in, zero down to ground zero. We have seen females in Silver Birches, and Apples. So the type of tree appears irrevelent.
Gleaned from memory over the last few days research.
"SB males will have a stand off, though their antlers do not crush, they joust off like stag deer, the winning male will have turned the other male over on to his back. - [ and gets the female ?? ] "
A nighttime shot. (http://www.gagging.to/images/stag/24052007119-small.jpg)
Riff...
Extraordinary tale and commendable rescue! ;D