LucanidaeLamprima aurata Prosopocoilus torresensis

The Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), also known as the Stag Beetle, belong to the genus Lamprima, which has now been revised. This also saw the specie Lamprima Latreille now classified as Lamprima aurata.

At time of writing (May 2023), there are five recognised species:

New Guinea (L. adolphinae (Gestro, 1875)), two on isolated western Pacific islands (L. aenea Fabricius, 1792: Norfolk Island; L. insularis W.J. Macleay, 1885: Lord Howe Island), one in northeastern New South Wales (L. imberbis Carter, 1926) and a common widespread species in eastern and southern Australia, L. aurata Latreille, 1817.

Source: Revision of the genus Lamprima Latreille, 1804 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)2
Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Female Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

Biological research on the morphology of Lamprima aurata have discovered that the many different forms that were then described as different species, were in fact the same species. Lamprima aurata is the designated senior synonym of 24 previously described species.2

Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Female Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

The variation in colour has seen other common names give to Lamprima aurata, such as the Golden Green Stag Beetle. This species have a metallic sheen, with stunning colours. The males can be a mix of gold and green, whilst the female are a richer green with blue and purple.

There has been documented that there are some colour differences in different parts of Australia. In Queensland the males are a metallic golden green with orange or red lustre, whilst In other parts of Australia, in particular Tasmania and Victoria, the males have a bit more colour variations (green, red, pink and purple).7

Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Female Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

The Golden Stag Beetle are small in size, with the male growing to about 25 mm in length, whilst the females are usually smaller, about 15 mm in length. The males have enlarged mandibles, a typical feature of stag beetles, which are used in battle with rival males.

Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Female Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

Like most of the Lamprima genus, the larvae species Lamprima aurata are usually found in the decaying roots and fallen, often buried timber. In the northern Queensland rainforest they have been found in standing timber. The larvae then go through three instars, before pupating to emerge as the adult stag beetle.

Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Female Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
  • Family: Lucanidae
  • Subfamily: Lampriminae
  • Genus: Lamprima
  • Species:
    • Lamprima adolphinae (Gestro, 1875)
    • Lamprima aenea (Fabricius, 1792)
    • Lamprima aurata Latreille, 1817
    • Lamprima imberbis Carter, 1926
    • Lamprima insularis W.J. Macleay, 1885
Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima aurata), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

Footnote & References

  1. Lamprima aurata (Golden Stag Beetle), Photographs © Marc Newman, Flickr
  2. Reid CAM, Smith K, Beatson M. Revision of the genus Lamprima Latreille, 1804 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). Zootaxa. 2018 Jul 17;4446(2):151-202. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4446.2.1. PMID: 30313885. https://www.academia.edu/48046996/Revision_of_the_genus_Lamprima_Latreille_1804_Coleoptera_Lucanidae_
  3. Lamprima aurata Latreille, 1817, Golden Stag Beetle, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/59fede41-4359-40c9-bff7-c0cbcab02440
  4. Lamprima aurata Latreille, 1817, GBIF Global Core Biodata Resource, https://www.gbif.org/species/148669776
  5. Lamprima aurata, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprima_aurata
  6. Reid, Chris & SMITH, KINDI. (2018). Revision of the genus Lamprima Latreille, 1804 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). Zootaxa. 4446. 151. 10.11646/zootaxa.4446.2.1., ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326448719_Revision_of_the_genus_Lamprima_Latreille_1804_Coleoptera_Lucanidae
  7. Golden Stag Beetle (Lamprima latreillii), Australian Insects, https://australianinsectsblog.wordpress.com/lamprima-latreillii/

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