Safari Ltd. | The Life Cycle of a Stag Beetle

Whilst the life cycle of many insects lasts only a few weeks, the stag beetle’s development takes years. The eggs are laid in rotting wood, where the larvae grow for six years before pupating. From that point on, development proceeds rapidly and the adult stag beetle emerges within a few weeks.

Scientific name: Lucanus cervus

Characteristics: The most striking feature of the adult stag beetle is its enormous mandibles. The insect owes its name to the fact that these resemble a stag’s antlers.

Dimensions and colour: The realistic eggs are set against a background of rotting wood, from which the soft, larva-like pupa emerges. The adult specimen is 9 cm long.

The life cycle of a stag beetle is part of the Safariology® collection.