Stag beetles (talk)

Stag beetles emerge in warm weather from mid-May onwards, males first, about a week before females. Both sexes are crepuscular (active at dusk) and can be seen on warm evenings, when males will be flying in search of females. Females usually remain on the ground and re-lease sex pheromones to attract the males. The life of an individual beetle is short, lasting around four weeks, and by August almost all stag beetles will be dead. Eggs laid underground hatch into larvae, which continue the life cycle.

Colin Hawes is the lead partner for the conservation of the stag beetle in Suffolk and his talk on this remarkable creature was for many a highlight of last year’s BioBlitz – not to be missed this time around.

All talks are in the Talks Tent, at the BioBlitz Hub in the Abbey Gardens, near the Lark footbridge by the play area.