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Syndesus cornutus, Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor

Lucanidae

LucanidaeLucanidae Index Lamprima aurata Lissapterus obesus 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/LUCANIDAE
  2. Stag Beetles (Family Lucanidae), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/49083-Lucanidae

LucanidaeLucanidae Index Lamprima aurata Lissapterus obesus Prosopocoilus torresensis

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