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Post by gashat on Sept 6, 2011 9:51:52 GMT -8
Hello New to beetles. I am going to central Pa. this coming month and was wondering if this species might be found there? Thanks
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Post by prillbug2 on Sept 6, 2011 13:12:44 GMT -8
There was a paper in the Coleopterists Bulletin a few years ago, which cited the range of the beetle as far north as southern Canada, but it may have been extirpated from much of its range. Actually, your best chance for catching them would be to go to Southern Illinois or further south around late June and into July.
Jeff Prill
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Post by beetlehorn on Sept 10, 2011 17:52:04 GMT -8
In regards to this species, (Lucanus elaphus) I would look for them to occur in areas where the deciduous trees have been allowed to grow old. In some of the areas I collect them there are oak, poplar and hickory trees with bases exceeding 48 inches diameter. It is in old growth forests from the New England area to the southern states of Georgia, Alabama, westward to Oklahoma, and Missouri that these large beetles occur, sometimes in good numbers. They can be found from the end of May to mid July, with the best times around the end of June according to the lunar phase. There are good years and bad, so they are cyclical just like everything else. This past summer was rather good, and I collected a good number that hovered around the 55mm to 60mm size range, which I can tell you from experience a true 60mm male is exceptionally nice to find. Tom Attachments:
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Post by bichos on Sept 10, 2011 19:07:28 GMT -8
In regards to this species, (Lucanus elaphus) I would look for them to occur in areas where the deciduous trees have been allowed to grow old. In some of the areas I collect them there are oak, poplar and hickory trees with bases exceeding 48 inches diameter. It is in old growth forests from the New England area to the southern states of Georgia, Alabama, westward to Oklahoma, and Missouri that these large beetles occur, sometimes in good numbers. They can be found from the end of May to mid July, with the best times around the end of June according to the lunar phase. There are good years and bad, so they are cyclical just like everything else. This past summer was rather good, and I collected a good number that hovered around the 55mm to 60mm size range, which I can tell you from experience a true 60mm male is exceptionally nice to find. Tom Awesome bugs Tom  Just curious did you light trap for these  |
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Post by bichos on Sept 10, 2011 20:03:36 GMT -8
The middle one is from Indiana, taken in June at light and the big one on the left from Ashland USA On the right is a Chinese species somewhat similar I thinks it is L.s.continentalis  Attachments:
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Post by beetlehorn on Sept 10, 2011 20:25:53 GMT -8
In reply to your question regarding the collecting method. Yes I use flourescent blacklight, and white light to attract them. I have never actually found one in the woods or on treestumps, although I know they must be in the area somewhere. Perhaps they spend their time in the treetops after they emerge, or possibly hiding under dead trees during the day. Im' not sure, but one thing that remains consistent is I always find them around old growth timber that consists of a mixture of hardwoods, especially oak and poplar. The largest male I have ever collected was an honest 63mm. In the wild they rarely exceed 60mm. Im' somewhat confident that an expert beetle breeder can exceed that size with captive reared examples. Below is an example of a 60mm male. Tom Attachments:
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Post by bichos on Sept 10, 2011 20:39:09 GMT -8
Thanks for the reply,
very zen lol! both black and white,
yes, it seems to work well, a combination of the two giving a broad spectrum of light waves.
Nice specimen, again! they must darken a little once preserved.
One more thing do you find they fly to the light just after dark? indicating they are crepuscular or do they flly to the lights throughout the night indicating non time-specific nocturnal activity?
as most of the lucanidae I have taken at lights seem to be strictly crepuscular, so I need to set up and ready to go at dusk...
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Post by arrowhead on Sept 12, 2011 7:07:03 GMT -8
Hi. I live in an area where elephus is found and I have always caught them with lights and later in the evening, sometimes as late as around 2 to 3 a.m. My prize 60 + mm was found during the day in a nook of an old chestnut (I believe) tree near where I had been lighting the night before. Maybe he arrived in the early a.m. and felt safe to weather the day there. An unusual aside: they seem to be more attracted to my "regular" porch lights than mv lights, but I buy those on ebay and couldn't swear if they're legitimate Mercury vapors or not. I do attract a fair amount of beetles and they're great for Saturnids, though.
Cheers,
Arrowhead
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Post by beetlehorn on Sept 13, 2011 10:24:56 GMT -8
Sorry for the delay, I would have responded sooner had I read the previous thread. Anyhow to answer your question, I would have to agree with arrowhead and say at the peak of their flight expecially, you can expect these beetles to come to your lights all night. That being said, I have noticed more individuals coming in between dusk and approx. 11:30pm. I believe there are areas where this species is more prevalent than other places within their range. Also I have found areas a few years ago where they occurred, then the following two or three years almost nothing, and all of a sudden I will go to an old area where I used to find them and they are back in good numbers. So you just have to go hunting for them, sooner or later you will find them for several nights in a row. Tom
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Post by bichos on Sept 14, 2011 3:02:04 GMT -8
Good info thanks |
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Post by joee30 on Dec 13, 2011 0:51:34 GMT -8
Can't wait to go home and look for these awesome beetles along with Dynastes tityus. Tom, how was the collecting in Woodlawn this summer? The collecting here in afghanistan was horrible, even though I got to go to some cool areas for parnassius. I did manage to get some goodies for you.
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Post by arrowhead on Dec 15, 2011 8:39:13 GMT -8
Hello. I had replied earlier and forgot to mention the more southern states such as Tennessee. Va., West Va, the Carolinas and such seem to be the best spots for them. I appreciate the info from Beetlehorn about their earlier arrival (dusk till 11:30). I work 2nd shift so it's usually midnight or later before I get my lights out and most of the gas stations are closed and turned off their lights. I get lucky and find one occasionally during their season at my job but now they are building a new factory behind us where I believe their habitat was and it's gone now. Guess I'll have to wait till this summer to see. We have a small wooded area on another side of our property so here's hoping they'll continue to show up there.
Cheers,
Arrowhead
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Post by prillbug2 on Dec 15, 2011 12:20:37 GMT -8
I had already mentioned that it is best to go further south in late June and July.
Jeff Prill
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Post by arrowhead on Dec 21, 2011 23:53:13 GMT -8
sorry
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jw
Junior Member
Posts: 43
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Post by jw on Mar 18, 2012 14:58:42 GMT -8
When is the best time of year to find elaphus larvae?
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