Platycerus caraboides

[davemoore]

Hello
Having moved to France, I would like to know how to find Platycerus caraboides.
Any help would be appreciated.
Also does anyone know of any entomologists that would be interested in joint collecting trips in the south west of france?
I live on the Charente Dordogne border.
Cheers
Dave

[poisonarrow]

These are fairly easy to find, if you know where to look. I normally found them in spring, around May, at the forest borders. Look for small pieces of white rotten wood, such as branches. Females and males are often sitting underneath. A tell-tale sign is the gnaw marks that the females produce when egg laying. If you see these marks, the female is normally not too far away.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Ben