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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 13, 2020 15:32:51 GMT -8
Yorky, that is indeed one awesome species of stag beetle !
I would say probably Europe's best known AND finest species...
I see various offerings for specimens and some are "gargantuan" at 80mm or more. I have two good sized ones myself. One is from Berlin, Germany and the other from Poland (can't recall the location). I'll post my Berlin specimen.
Our native Elephant Stag Beetle (Lucanus elephus) is a somewhat smaller version of L. cervus. It is our largest and most impressive stag species with large ones measuring in at 60mm or more. Still in all very much a beast !
I think you did a "fine" job on your specimens ! You preened out the labial palps and antennae, parted those massive jaws open, and you have them in a walking posture. That covers all the things which I normally do.
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 13, 2020 15:48:02 GMT -8
Here is my Berlin example.
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Post by yorky on Nov 14, 2020 7:43:36 GMT -8
How long do beetles take to dry? They have been there for 3 weeks now but I have no idea how long they need to stay in the same position.
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 14, 2020 10:08:59 GMT -8
I would leave them another 7-10 days yet to dry. At least a month+ like leps...
Early removal could result in "drooping" heads since it takes the body longer to dry out and "firm-up" than the legs, antennae, and palpi.
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Post by johnnyboy on Nov 14, 2020 11:27:40 GMT -8
Lucanus cervus is still quite common in the suburbs of south and southeast London, I get them in my garden. I have also found their larvae, at different stages of development, in and around an old rotten pear tree stump a neighbour wanted removing. A friend and I reburied the stump, and the larvae, at the end of his Dad's garden. I did post a picture of an adult male my son found a few years ago.
Johnny
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