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Post by bichos on Apr 9, 2011 21:32:55 GMT -8
another one of my all time faves
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Post by bichos on Apr 9, 2011 22:00:23 GMT -8
Can any identify this Lucanus sp? Lucanus sp??? 58mm (Xiang Khoang, Laos) I got this sp mixed in with L. tibetanus from Laos but it's more like in-between L. fryi and L. tibetanus. Might be new??? Thanks if any one can help me identify it.  Raymond look at its elytra, suggesstive of an aberration its the most likely explanation sorry! still an interesting specimen though |
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Post by lucanidae25 on Apr 9, 2011 22:03:40 GMT -8
I have seen them live but they don't live for very long, especially if the temperture is higher than 25'c. L. fryi or L. tibetanus?  |
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Post by bichos on Apr 9, 2011 22:16:38 GMT -8
This is Lucanus elaphus, from Tennessee. I usually encounter these near areas of mixed hardwood forest. The largest ones are typically around the 60mm mark. Tom HI beetle horn nice picture  just curious to know how you "encounter" elaphus do they feed at sap flows like some of the other species? I know they fly to lights  |
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Post by lucanidae25 on Apr 9, 2011 22:24:28 GMT -8
I think it looks more like L. fryi than L. tibetanus.  |
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Post by bichos on Apr 9, 2011 22:26:56 GMT -8
I think it looks more like L. fryi than L. tibetanus. yes I agree it has a fuller body like fryi |
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Post by lucanidae25 on Apr 9, 2011 22:56:47 GMT -8
This rises more questions than answers. I don't think L. fryi is ever found from Laos before? ?? |
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Post by thanos on Apr 9, 2011 23:27:19 GMT -8
Tom,the elaphus are great ! I have just put for relaxing the 60mm male that you sent me -it is greeeeeeeat ! bichos,wowwwww,95mm for akbesianus is a TOP size !Congrats!I have 90mm. I have collected many turcicus here in Greece,including a few giants of 77-83mm ! These are really among the WIDEST Lucanus I've seen! I'll post some photos as soon as possible. (Note that some treat akbesianus as a geographical variation,and not as a ssp.,of turcicus,due to the similar antennae.Personally,I treat it as a different subspecies,as the mandibles are of distinctively different shape,it grows to a longer length in the largest males,and the populations of akbesianus are quite restricted in distribution compared to the more widespread turcicus). Thanos |
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Post by Bugman on Apr 10, 2011 0:39:45 GMT -8
Nice species you have there. lucanidae25: I think its L.fryi. Maybe an undescribed supspecies or aberration. A friend of mine, who lives in Turkey, wants to catch 95mm+ L.c.akbesianus this year, I hope he will get them Next: Lucanus busignyi, 30mm - Turkey Attachments:
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Post by Bugman on Apr 10, 2011 3:04:19 GMT -8
Lucanus laetus, 49-50mm - China Attachments:
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Post by thanos on Apr 10, 2011 15:52:54 GMT -8
Here are L.c.turcicus 77+ and 82+ mm from C.Greece(largest known length for this ssp. is 85mm).The 82+mm monster male on the right is the largest and widest specimen of this ssp. I have ever collected/seen(and I think among the widest Lucanus specimens in the world).
Note that inside the same population of turcicus here (on the same Quercus trees),where I collect this ssp., exist specimens with 4-6 antennal lamellae(the final elongated antennal articles of the club).These males on the photo(the left has 6 lamellae -typical of turcicus, the right 4 ones -not typical of turcicus) have been collected on the same Quercus trees at the same habitat around a lake in C.Greece -so both are turcicus.(As known,the different subspecies require geographically isolated populations - I read on the net about possible interbreeding of c.turcicus with c.cervus as a justification of the various number of articles of the antennal club between the individuals inside single populations of the species here in Greece).
Thanos
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Post by thanos on Apr 10, 2011 15:58:33 GMT -8
Sorry,here is the photo.
Thanos
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Post by bichos on Apr 11, 2011 4:45:28 GMT -8
Its got to be one of the nicest cervus spp. must be a real thrill to find them at 80mm+ Interesting antenae too [exalt] |
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Post by thanos on Apr 11, 2011 6:57:47 GMT -8
bichos,you must see me with a net of 8 meters,trying to collect the 80+mm giants that I see high on the Quercus trees - I remember 1 giant male had fallen directly on my head  ! Yes it is a great experience and in this June I will visit again this paradise Quercus forest for them,as it is quite close to my home .Hope to get a few giants. Also it is a lovely experience to see them flying there in the afternoons of hot days ! I have catched many of the smaller males with the net in the air (like butterflies ),but the giant males fly very slowly and crush on the forest road ! Thanos |
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Post by Bugman on Apr 11, 2011 7:09:51 GMT -8
I have only seen 2 giant males of L.c.cervus in the wild. The biggest one was 83mm, he was very impressive. But at this time I did not collect.
I'm active for about 3 years now and I hope to get giants this year. The most males are about 50-60mm. 75mm+ is very rare, maybe 2-3 per season. 80mm+ maybe one specimen in 3 or 4 years.
I catch them at evenings (21:00 - 23:00) in June and July when they are flying. Unfortunately I haven't got the equipment for climbing big oaks or big nets.
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just curious to know how you "encounter" elaphus 
! Yes it is a great experience and in this June I will visit again this paradise Quercus forest for them,as it is quite close to my home