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After a long, lazy life as a larva, the stag beetle reaches adulthood and begins a race against the clock. The lifespan of an adult is very short, so it has to find a mate before time runs out. Male beetles often must battle each other for the right to mate with a single female. They lock horns, fighting like mini sumo wrestlers with gigantic jaws.

Flat & Balanced: The male stag beetle's head is wide and flat. This not only makes room for the insect's enormous jaws, but it also provides balance for the bug during battles.

Boring Babies: Stag beetles live for up to five years as larvae. During this stage of life, they nestle into a damp spot near an old oak tree and feed off wood and fungi.

The Fight of a Lifetime[]

Stag Beetle Back Image

Male stag beetles wrestle for a mate.

The male stag beetle's oversized jaws are used for one thing-battles with other males. These insects live only a few weeks as adults, so they fight furiously with each other over who gets to mate with a nearby female. They grip their opponents and hold them with the spikes that line their jaws. The first male to flip the other onto its back wins.

Reserve Fuel: In its short adult life, the stag beetle lives off reserve nutrients it stored as a larva. If the insect gets hungry, it laps up a little bit of tree sap with a yellow, brush-like tongue.

Come Fly With Me: The stag beetle's back is tinted red or purple. This colorful shell hides small wings; adult insects use the wings to fly around in a frenzy to find a mate as quickly as possible.

On His Back[]

Two male stag beetles want to mate with a nearby female, but only one can do it. The only way to decide is to battle it out with their antler-like jaws. They grab at each other furiously, but their jaws aren't strong enough to do any damage. One of them finally finds the leverage to flip the other on its back. The loser struggles to get up, but may end up lying there until he dies.

Trivia[]

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