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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Key species and habitats // Stag beetles // Lesser stag beetles facts

Lesser stag beetles facts

Lesser stag beetles (Dorcus paralellapipidus) are the smaller cousin of our more well-known stag beetle (Lucanus cervus). They also rely on dead wood for a large part of their life cycle. However, instead of laying their eggs in rotting wood underground, they use wood and tree stumps above the ground. They are more common and have a wider range than the stag beetle.

Identification

Lesser stag beetles range in size from about 2-4cm and are matt black in colour. The males lack the enlarged antler-like jaws of the male stag beetle. Males and females are still different, but the differences are less noticeable than in the stag beetle.

Male lesser stag beetle, Image by Christopher Bestall

Female-stag-beetle-compare-to-lesser-stag-beetle@tobertronic — Female stag beetle, Image by @tobertronic

Life cycle

Females lay their eggs in rotting wood above ground. Larvae only take 1-2 years to develop and unlike stag beetles the adults don’t necessarily die at the end of the season; they can live for up to 2 years. They are often found hiding or sheltering in plant pots, under stored wood and sometimes in sheds and houses.

Male and female lesser stag beetles, Image by Phillip Shwalbe

Distribution

Lesser stag beetles are more widely distributed across the country than stag beetles.

Lesser stag beetle map — **PTES lesser stag beetle records 2006 – 2019** (collected via The Great Stag Hunt)

For more information on identification, life cycles and behaviour of lesser stag beetles you can visit Maria Fremlin’s website Stag Beetles for Everyone.

Back to stag beetle homepage