COMMON NAME
Golden green stag beetle
Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias
Coleoptera

Scarabaeoidea

Lucanidae

Lamprima

Lamprima aurata


Description

The two species L. aurata and L. latreilli are often referred to together as they appear identical with colour variations. Lamprima latreillii is a metallic golden green / yellow colour. These are a type of scarab beetle. On the mainland the males are a metallic green colour, whereas the same species in Tasmania can be burgundy, brown or green in colour. The males have large mandibles jutting forwards which they use to fight other males. These mandibles have orange/brown hairs along the inside. The common name of stag beetle refers to the beetles using their mandibles like male deer (stags) use their antlers. Females are smaller than the males with smaller mandibles and their colouring is usually blue, blue/green or dull brown. When the beetle feels threatened it will “play dead”, tucking its legs up underneath its body. The larvae are typical “C” curl grubs.

Adult size: 35mm

Out and about

During the warmer months they will be on the ground hiding in the leaf litter. These beetles are native to Australia and are found mainly on the east coast of Australia

Reproduction and Life cycle

The female lays her eggs in rotting wood. Adult beetles may live for several months but most of their life is as a larva feeding on rotten wood.

To deter

To control

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Predators

Why they are Beneficial
The larvae of these beetles feed only on dead, rotting wood as well as a fungus growing on the wood. They will be found in rotting tree trunks, mainly Eucalyptus trees. Adults of most species don’t appear to feed but some species will feed on nectar, young plant shoots and sap. This species seems to like fruit. Different species of stag beetles feed on different timbers.
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