Platycerus virescens from AL

[Lucanus]

Found these yesterday

I've never seen these in AL before even though the place where I found them was an area where I've visited multiple times. So it was a real surprise when I found these guys in that area.

 

[JinxieRuthie]

SO cute! Nice find, Alan! I'll have to keep an eye out for these.

 

[Lucanus]

SO cute! Nice find, Alan! I'll have to keep an eye out for these.

Thank you

Their season will only last for about a month so hope you find some before the season ends.

 

[hardshell]

wow the mandible structure is very different from platycerus oregonsis

 

[Lucanus]

wow the mandible structure is very different from platycerus oregonsis

It sure is! Though I prefer P. oregonensis mandibles over P. virescens

 

[Mashku]

Very nice find !

Do you try to breed them ?

Greetings,

Mashku.

 

[Lucanus]

Very nice find !

Do you try to breed them ?

Greetings,

Mashku.

Unfortunately, I was only able to find males

But I did manage to breed some last year though all the adults that emerged died mysteriously.

 

[Lucanus]

Update :

 

[Greatwun]

Awesome!

 

[Lucanus]

Update :

 

[Lucanus]

Male emerged

 

[Bill Myers]

They're just so darn cute when they emerge!

Nice.

Cheers

 

[Lucanus]

They're just so darn cute when they emerge!

Nice.

Cheers

IKR? They look like little angels

 

[Hisserdude]

nice looking beetles!

 

[wizentrop]

Very nice post! We have a similarly looking Platycerus species up here in Ontario, but I am not sure about the exact sp. They seem to be very common once spring hits.

 

[Lucanus]

Very nice post! We have a similarly looking Platycerus species up here in Ontario, but I am not sure about the exact sp. They seem to be very common once spring hits.

Ooh...those might be P. depressus, which I've been looking for for a long time. Can you possibly collect and sell some to me?

 

[wizentrop]

Sure! I can do that very easily, they are super common where I live. However, since we had some serious frost already, you will have to wait until April..
Just to be sure - are you looking for adults or larvae? I think the adults are not very long-lived.

Here's a not-so-good photo of a male from 2012:

 

[Lucanus]

Sure! I can do that very easily, they are super common where I live. However, since we had some serious frost already, you will have to wait until April..

Just to be sure - are you looking for adults or larvae? I think the adults are not very long-lived.

Here's a not-so-good photo of a male from 2012:

Thank you so much for considering and that is an awesome picture you have right there!

Unfortunately, the species in the picture is the same species as the one on this topic : Platycerus virescens. Yours is a major male, which is quite hard to encounter. Wish I could see a major male like that in my area

 

[wizentrop]

Thanks for the ID. I do not know a lot a bout this genus. How do you distinguish between Platycerus virescens and P. depressus?