Stag Beetle Larvae?

[bluefrogtat2]

nice find..great pics

andy

 

[DeadInTheBasement]

i will go collect some wood for them tomorrow

 

[Beetle-Experience]

No, the sutures on the face are very different. Also the head coloration is different but that's not definitive.

Hey Orin,

Cool. Is that something you figured out? I will have to take a look at L.c. -vs- L.e. when I get home. Every publication I've found stops at Genus for Lucanus larval ID. I know at least one specifically mentioned an inability to ID beyond that.

Do you have all four sp. figured? We need a: Larval Descriptions of Four Species of Lucanus Scopoli 1763 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) with a Key for Identification: O. McMonigle

 

[Dynastes]

It's something I noticed years ago but I assumed it was something already documented. When you see them you'll see the sutures are notably different. Take some good, straight-on shots of your larvae and we'll see about putting together that article. However, I'm sure we won't find Pseudolucanus placidus larvae.

Hey Orin,

Cool. Is that something you figured out? I will have to take a look at L.c. -vs- L.e. when I get home. Every publication I've found stops at Genus for Lucanus larval ID. I know at least one specifically mentioned an inability to ID beyond that.

Do you have all four sp. figured? We need a: Larval Descriptions of Four Species of Lucanus Scopoli 1763 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) with a Key for Identification: O. McMonigle

 

[DeadInTheBasement]

they are now in a 100% wood substrate and being kept in a room that is 65-74 F depending on the time of day

 

[Lucanus]

Hey Orin,

Cool. Is that something you figured out? I will have to take a look at L.c. -vs- L.e. when I get home. Every publication I've found stops at Genus for Lucanus larval ID. I know at least one specifically mentioned an inability to ID beyond that.

Do you have all four sp. figured? We need a: Larval Descriptions of Four Species of Lucanus Scopoli 1763 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) with a Key for Identification: O. McMonigle

What I noticed with my larvae are that L. elaphus larvae have more curved mandibles while L. capreolus larvae have a really straight mandibles. I need to check my larvae to see more difference.

 

[Beetle-Experience]

Hey Orin,

Like this?

(L.p. from 07)

 

[Dynastes]

No, the front of the head capsule. The sutures are where the head splits when molting.

 

[Dynastes]

Like this though maybe a little sharper and not at an angle.

 

[Beetle-Experience]

No, I mean - that is a Lucanus placidus grub...

 

[Dynastes]

How about a good shot of the sutures?

 

[Lucanus]

No, I mean - that is a Lucanus placidus grub...

Wow! I've never seen a L. palcidus larva. Great shot !

 

[Beetle-Experience]

Wow! I've never seen a L. palcidus larva. Great shot !

Thanks! I had been after those for years and years - even using GPS coordinates from someone who had found some in the early 90's. I have to do a 6hr round trip drive to get to the spot (one good thing is that the spot is good for dung beetles too).

I didn't have too much luck with them and my culture has run dry (sorry Orin - no close-up). I plan (hope) to find more this year and try again. I was using a sandy substrate with buried logs. The females seemed to lay most in the spots between the logs and the bottom of the terrarium.