With their turgid mandibles and imposing size , stag mallet can look intimidating if they show up around your home . However , these beetle are not consider pests and do not damage household structures or living trees In most cases , the best solution is to simply leave stag beetles alone and delight their fascinating life cycle But if an infestation around your belongings is problematic , there are some effective and eco - favorable way to deter hart beetles without harm them .
Understanding Stag Beetles
Stag beetles belong to the syndicate Lucanidae , with around 1,200 mintage worldwide . Of these , the European stag beetle ( Lucanus cervus ) is the largest in the UK , reaching up to 76 millimeter long .
Only the manly stag beetle has the iconic antler - same mandibles used for wrestling other male person to win a mate . The mandibles of female person are much smaller .
hart beetle larvae live underground and feed on decaying woods for up to 7 years before emerging as adults . They do not harm living trees or shrub .
adult live for just a few month and do not tip during this brief full point , subsisting only on juicy reserve built up as a grub .
hart beetles are a protected species in the UK due to habitat loss It is illegal to sell or keep them without a permit .
Why Stag Beetles Invade Homes
hart beetle may seem attract to dwellings , but in most pillow slip they simply vagabond into garden and homes by accident while research for mates , food , or desirable home ground . Reasons for hart beetle encroachment include :
Attraction to visible light – Like many nocturnal worm , stag mallet navigate by Moon . shining outdoor lighting can put off and appeal them .
Seeking shelter – Beetles may cower into service department , sheds , and homes while try cool , damp places to hide on spicy day .
Breeding action – In summertime , male hart beetles fly in hunt of female . They may blunder indoors in the process .
Suitable larval habitat – rot wood from structures and tree diagram around your home can provide ideal fosterage sites .
How to Get Rid of Stag Beetles Naturally
Before taking any action , recollect that hart beetles are good insects worthy of protection . await for humane , non - deadly solutions :
impart them be – Adult hart beetles live only a few calendar week and do not bite or sting . If they are not have harm , let them be .
grow off luminosity – slenderize out-of-door lighting at dark during summer nurture month to forefend attracting beetles .
Seal entry points – Caulk cracks and install doorway sweeps to prevent accidental entrance . Screen volcano and chimneys as well .
pile up and relocate – Carefully captivate private beetles in a container and bring out them outside away from your home . Wear gloves when handling .
Create habitat elsewhere – work up a log quite a little aside from your home to disport larvae . Avoid interrupt existing breeding website .
Use repellents – Strong aromas from Eugenia aromaticum , mint , citrus peels , or camphor may help discourage mallet from participate .
When to Call Pest Control for Stag Beetles
You may need to turn over pestis management professional person if :
Large numbers of beetles are invading your living space every night .
grounds of beetle wrong is found on structure .
Attempts to seal off entree points fail to exclude beetles .
An secret larval habitat like a wood quite a little can not be relocate from your belongings .
opt a service that commit humane removal and relocation methods for hart beetles whenever possible . Avoid those proposing hurtful or lethal control approaches .
Preventing Future Stag Beetle Infestations
To quash on-going issues with stag beetles around your home :
set up jaundiced “ bug lights ” that are less attractive to dirt ball .
Address moisture issues such as tattling pipage , standing water , and excessive humidity .
Stack firewood and log neatly off the footing and far from your base ’s basis .
Seal any gaps and cracks in your base ’s exterior . Use expand froth for larger holes .
supervene upon wood mulch around foundation with less - invoke option like pebbles or rubber .
Clean gutter and debilitate flat rooftops to prevent weewee pooling .
Keep Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ambo and fall logs remove from your belongings .
With some simple exclusionary tactics and habitat modifications , you’re able to deter stag beetle from becoming problematical around your menage . Avoid harming these fascinating insect , and cue children to admire but not touch . A few stray beetle now and then are plainly part of coexist with nature .
Can Stag Beetles Damage My Home?
While adult stag beetles do not do any geomorphological legal injury , their larvae feed on decaying wood for year while developing underground . This could potentially impact wooden element of your home over time if reproduction sites are site immediately next to the foundation .
Signs of larval damage could include :
Weakened wooden support radio beam or posts
Holes bore into wooden structural elements
Damaged wooden shutters , doors , windowpane build or siding
While rarefied , severe plague left untreated may necessitate fumigation or foundation repairs . This is why prevent suitable gentility shape close to your home is central .
Are Stag Beetles Harmful to Humans or Pets?
Stag mallet do not bite or sting , and they are not poisonous or venomous . The large mandibles of virile beetle can give a fairly painful pinch , but they are not an aggressive species . Stag beetle do not broadcast any disease and only very rarely prick if severely provoked . They can safely be pick up but should be wield gently and not squeezed . With introductory cautiousness and respect , stag beetles pose no peril to people or pets sharing their home ground . Always supervise small small fry around insects .
Fun Facts About Stag Beetles
Stag beetle jaws are the strongest among any worm proportional to body size of it . Their bite force out is around 30 - 40 Newtons compare to humans at 700 !
Adult hart beetle have no functioning mouthparts . They live only on fat reserves accumulated as larvae . Some do n’t eat at all as adults during their brief 2 - 8 workweek lifespan .
Males struggle each other using their mandibles . The jaws are used as shields , levers , nutcrackers and spears , but contestant rarely in earnest offend each other . Displays settle contravention without combat .
Larvae spend up to 7 years underground feeding on decaying woodwind instrument before finally pupate into adulthood .
Stag beetle larvae help enrich dirt . Their tunneling aerates the ground and their waste products recycle nutrient back into the earth .
Adults can discover the scent of a female stag beetle up to half a geographical mile away !
Stag mallet may wait imposing , but they are fascinating insects that are generally harmless . apprise these alone mallet when you encounter them , and opt for gentle , non - lethal methods if they become a nuisance . With some awareness and preventative beat , we can peacefully coexist with stag beetles in our shared habitats .
What do I do if I dig up a stag beetle larva?
Larvae ( or grubs ) live underground feeding on rotting wood . If you may , put it back exactly where you discover it . The next skillful thing is to rebury the larva in your garden in a safe , shadowy smear with as much of the original molder Sir Henry Joseph Wood as you may .
I’ve found an adult stag beetle – what do I do now?
Enjoy observing such a brilliant beetle . If it ’s not in straightaway peril of being run over or step on , leave it where it is and write down what you saw . For its own rubber , if you have to move a stag mallet , please do it as close to house as possible , like into a nearby hedge or plant .
How To Care For Beetle Larvae | Tips For Beginners! | Pets
FAQ
How do you prevent stag beetles ?
Are hart mallet a job ?
Why am I observe hart mallet in my firm ?
Why are shop beetles in my yard ?
How do you get rid of stag beetles ?
The single most important activity to facilitate give away beetles is to keep stumps in office when trees or woody shrubs decease or are trend down . This provides essential decaying woods underground for stag beetles to eat for year to come . 2 . ramp up a logarithm pyramid
How do I remove a bee stinger ?
Using a art object of gauze bandage , your fingernail , or another instrument , you may kowtow across the stinger to shift it from your skin . It is also possible to move out the cut using tweezers or your fingernail . act soon is crucial .
Are stag beetle quick for a battle ?
Even if they ’re just fawn around logs and mulch in backyard , snoop beetles seem quick for a conflict . One of the largest of the North American beetle , female person of this species can grow up to two inches long and males up to three inches . Males have elongated , antler - like jaw used to fight rivals and attract better half .
What is a hart beetle ?
We believe your Stag Beetle is Dorcus parallelus , commonly phone an Antelope Beetle according to BugGuide where it states : “ Larvae provender in decaying stumps and roots of oak , linden , and maple . ” This species does not exhibit some of the extreme intimate dimorphism found in other Stag Beetles , but we consider this is a male .
