THE GREAT STAG HUNT
 

The stag beetle is the largest terrestrial beetle in the UK. It is hugely charismatic, with its antler-like mandibles and bumbling flight.

Our partner, the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), first ran the Great Stag Hunt in 1998 and has been collecting records ever since.
This has allowed the PTES to map the stag beetle's current range, and it is important for the Trust to continue monitoring the species.

Photograph © and courtesy of IACR Rothamsted

Photograph © and courtesy of Mick Briggs

Adult stag beetles emerge between May and August – you can help the PTES track these insects by logging on to www.greatstaghunt.org and registering your sighting. You can also upload your stag beetle photographs.

Bury a Bucket for Beetles

In addition to reporting your stag beetle sightings, you can also contribute to an innovative project which allows the PTES to monitor stag beetle larvae as well as creating an artificial breeding site for females to lay their eggs.

Drill holes in a bucket, fill it with untreated woodchip and soil and bury it in your garden. The bucket can be dug up after one year and the contents examined for stag beetle larvae. It is then topped up with more woodchip and soil and re-buried.

For more information or to register a bucket visit Bury Buckets 4 Beetles at the PTES website.

Photograph © and courtesy of Angela Horne