LucanidaeLamprima aurata Prosopocoilus torresensis

Stag beetles are a family of approximately 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies: Aesalinae, Lampriminae, Lucaninae and Syndesinae.

Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Belair SA © Marianne Broug

The adult stag beetles usually have well developed mandibles, that may also differ between the male and female within the same species (known as sexual dimorphism). Most adult stage beetles are nocturnal. Many being nectar feeder, whilst the larvae feed on rotting wood.

Prosopocoilus torresensis, QLD © Hongming Kan
Prosopocoilus torresensis, QLD © Hongming Kan
Syndesus cornutus, Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Syndesus cornutus, Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
  • Family: Lucanidae
  • Subfamily:
    • Aesalinae Macleay, 1819
    • Lampriminae W.S. MacLeay, 1819
    • Lucaninae Latreille, 1804
    • Syndesinae Macleay, 1819
  • Subfamily: Lucaninae
  • Tribe: Lucanini
  • Genus: Prosopocoilus
  • Species: Prosopocoilus torresensis

Footnote & References

  1. Lucanidae, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/d1d11787-d8b9-4105-8d3e-fdcd926806cb
  2. Stag Beetles (Family Lucanidae), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/49083-Lucanidae

LucanidaeLamprima aurata Prosopocoilus torresensis

ColeopteraAmarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Digitonthophagus gazella Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub