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Post by bichos on Apr 13, 2011 5:40:27 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 Extreme beetle collecting/safari, I like it Thanos you are very lucky to be close to such forest sounds amazing  |
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Post by thanos on Apr 13, 2011 8:06:17 GMT -8
Bichos, yes I also consider myself very lucky to live very close to some of the best habitats for great Coleoptera in Greece..This forest is just a bit more than an hour road from my home and it is really the only place that I know here where a really impressive population of turcicus occur,with giant males encountered almost every time I visit it !! In this late May I will go again there and again during June (in mid June is the peak of the population there).Also,in this forest,I find other very rare and interesting species (saproxylic) like Osmoderma lassallei,Elater ferrugineus..I also find many Cerambyx cerdo of huge size..the endemic Chaetocarabus arcadicus arcadicus..etc..so it's a really great habitat ! But,in addition to this forest,I live even closer(about half an hour from my home!) to other fantastic saproxylic habitats for great species like Propomacrus bimucronatus,Osmoderma lassallei,Rhaesus serricollis,Rosalia alpina,a rare small-sized ssp.of Lucanus cervus(I think is pentaphyllus) etc....!So,for beetles,real paradises are close to my home .But for the most interesting species of our butterflies...I have almost all the times to travel quite far from my home..For example,for reaching one of the best habitats for many interesting and rare Rhopalocera(Limenitis populi,many good Erebias,Parnassius apollo rhodopensis and many others,but also there are found great beetles like Procerus sommeri bureschianus!!) on Mt.Rhodopi(N.Greece),I have to drive for about 6 hours from my town and to spend the night at forest hotels there. Great collecting experiences and results almost each time,although quite tiring and spendy trips.. Thanos |
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Post by thanos on Apr 19, 2011 22:24:42 GMT -8
Lucanus elaphus male 60mm !! From Tennessee. Mr Tom (beetlehorn),your comments please . Attachments:
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Post by bichos on Apr 23, 2011 2:12:19 GMT -8
I hate it how I always spot the flaws first as soon as I see a specimen  like this wonderful elephus 60mm + wow!!!!!!! with a little chip on the tip of the left mandible... |
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Post by johnnyboy on Apr 23, 2011 4:06:18 GMT -8
Great pictures everyone! :)I'm lucky to live in a part of the UK where we hget lots of Lucanus cervus in the late spring. I attach a picture of a series of males, the three smaller specimens were all caught in London , the middle two in my garden. The big specimen is 80mm and comes from Hungary. Notice that the second smallest male has its copulatory organ (aedegus) extended, it had been hit by a car I think when I found it. Johnny Attachments:
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Post by arrowhead on Apr 23, 2011 11:04:35 GMT -8
great thread and pics! Keep them coming. I love the Lukes. By the way I didn't see an answer about finding L. elaphus in the woods? I'd love to know where to look. I'm in the right region, but all my specimens I've caught were attracted to lights. Thanks--arrowhead
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Post by beetlehorn on Apr 24, 2011 4:09:13 GMT -8
In response to Thanos' specimen, very nice mounting job! I didn't notice the tiny chip until Bichos pointed it out, but nevertheless it is a handsome beetle. Finding a live stag beetle during the day is quite rare indeed, especially one of this size. I always encounter them around lights near good habitat, and have seen them flying at dusk. I don't recall ever seeing one flying during the day. I suppose they can be found on trees that are leaking sap.
In the photo below, I have included some of the largest specimens I ever collected. All are around the 60mm mark. The one in the top row center is the largest I have seen yet and measures in at 63mm! This is definately a rarity in the wild. Most specimens (90%) measure in at around 50-55mm. When you see them approaching 57, 58 and above I think it is safe to assume you have found the ideal habitat and conditions for this species. Tom
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Post by thanos on Apr 24, 2011 18:59:59 GMT -8
Thank you,Tom ! I always try my best with mounting,especially with rare specimens. Wow..63 mm is for sure a record size for this species - congrats ! Very nice rows of giant elaphus males - also beautifully spread ! In contrast to when/where you find elaphus there,most of my L.cervus turcicus specimens(including a few giant males) I have collected during daytime (mainly in hot,sunny afternoons) and not at lights at night(a few ones). I see them walking on the Quercus trees,taking juices from them,fighting,mating and flying ! But such population that allows you to enjoy this great species here,I have found only in one forest..luckily close to my home ! Nowhere else in Greece,although I've searched a lot for this species.In about 1 month from now,it is again time for this special habitat here for these great beetles  . Thanos |
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Post by Bugman on Aug 2, 2011 8:05:37 GMT -8
Lucanus formosanus, Taiwan small one: 42mm big one: 71mm Attachments:
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Post by Bugman on Aug 2, 2011 8:06:20 GMT -8
Lucanus maculifemoratus taiwanus, Taiwan 60mm Attachments:
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Post by Bugman on Aug 2, 2011 8:07:25 GMT -8
Lucanus maculifemoratus maculifemoratus, Japan, Hokkaido Forest 71mm Attachments:
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Post by Bugman on Aug 2, 2011 8:08:16 GMT -8
Lucanus maculifemoratus maculifemoratus, Japan, Hokkaido Forest also 71mm Attachments:
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Post by corradocancemi on Aug 11, 2011 5:49:16 GMT -8
This is a Lucanus cervus from Italy, Lombardia, 79mm. Do you know the name of the italian cervus subspecies? Is Lucanus cervus cervus? Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2011 7:08:44 GMT -8
Here is L. judaicus at 55mm. Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2011 7:10:43 GMT -8
Lucanus augusticornis at 68mm. Attachments:
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! 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.
.
