Stag Beetle

beetles · insects · big jaws

Antler-like jaws. Male stag beetles have huge, branching jaws that look like a stag deer's antlers. They use these impressive jaws to wrestle other males and win mates, not to bite.

Surprisingly huge. Some stag beetle species grow over 12 centimeters long, making them some of the biggest beetles in the world. Most species are smaller at about 5 centimeters, but that's still pretty chunky for a bug.

Mega diverse family. Stag beetles belong to the family Lucanidae, which includes about 1,200 different species around the world. They come in four different subfamilies with all sorts of jaw shapes and sizes.

Jaw strength contest. Males use their enormous jaws to push and shove each other in battles over females, like tiny wrestlers with nature's built-in weapons. The beetle with the bigger jaws usually wins.

Wood-loving babies. Young stag beetles spend years growing inside rotting wood as larvae before becoming the cool armored adults you might spot on summer nights.