Specieswatch: now is the best time to see the stag beetle | Insects

This is the best time of year to see Britain’s largest insect, the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus, with its distinctive jaws that look like antlers, hence its common name.

The males, which reach up to 75mm long (3ins) look formidable but are completely harmless. At this time of year they fly at dusk looking for much smaller females. If you are very lucky you will see two males, jaws locked in combat, jousting for a female.

Sadly, they are an endangered species and have disappeared from some European countries, so the UK population is important. They live mostly in the south, particularly around London because of the warmer climate, but can also be found in northern England, albeit rarely. A stag beetle hunt is being held by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species to map as many of their habitats as possible.

Stag beetles live most of their lives underground, their large white larvae living and feeding on the rotting wood of old trees, mostly oaks. They spend three to seven years underground, depending on the temperature, before pupating and emerging in late May to begin their search for a mate. Sometimes, attracted by warmth, they unadvisedly sit on asphalt. These should be moved to the nearest safe grass or wood but otherwise they should be left in peace.