Catching Beetles on the Northeastern Coast

[pannaking22]

A friend of mine emailed me with a question and I figured it would be better to post it up here than try to answer it on my own. He lives in New Jersey if that helps narrow things down a bit.

 

"I'm going to need the help of all the beetle experts here. As you have read in the title, I am trying to catch beetles on the Northeastern Coast in the US. Based on my research, the only large species available are Lucanus capreolus, Dynastes tityus, Dorcus parallelus, and Ceruchus piceus. I have looked all last summer to no avail. I use banana as bait and I also use lights to attract them at night. I even go rooting around in rotting hardwood logs for larvae.

Any help as to how I can catch them?"

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Amici Con Coleotteri]

I'm also in NJ but this is my first year actively hunting. I've found loads of stags in my life but never actually went looking. I'll keep you posted on my findings for him.

 

What part of NJ is he in?

[Ratmosphere]

This is an old topic but I have to bump it instead of making a new thread with the similar title. I have recently read that the Dynastes Tityus could be found in Connecticut, the state in which I reside. However, in all the years that I've lived here, I never had a sign of seeing one. I read a tip on to check the log cavities of fallen trees because they might live inside. I am going to do this when the weather becomes warmer but I know my luck will be slim. Maybe they live upstate more? If anyone has experience in catching this species in this state please let me know.