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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
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- - 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
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- - 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
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- - 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
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- - 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 // Research grants // Our internship projects // Saving threatened great stag beetles across Europe

Saving threatened great stag beetles across Europe

Status

Decreasing

Population

Unknown

Scientific name

Lucanus cervus

The problem

Great stag beetles are incredible creatures. Their giant mandibles look like deer antlers and make for an impressive sight and the males use these antlers to compete with other males in order to win over females.

Our largest land-living beetle has an unusual life history. Interestingly, it spends several years as a larva, underground and only emerges as an adult for a few weeks during the summer. What’s more, the adults barely feed, but the larvae rely on a good supply of deadwood in order for them to grow and fatten up. However, across Europe, dead wood is becoming scarcer. And this means stag beetles are in trouble.

The solution

PTES has been working with our European partners for some years. A concerted pan-European effort is underway to monitor and conserve stag beetles. Some countries where stag beetles are found have fewer resources or less interest from the general public. By pooling our efforts it means we are focusing attention and helping stag beetles across the entire continent.

Arianna Tagliani PTES internship grant european stag beetles. Saving threatened great stag beetles across Europe — A stag beetle larva

The ‘European stag beetle monitoring’ initiative (www.stagbeetlemonitoring.org) was set up in 2016, with help from PTES. We are now supporting Arianna Tagliani to continue this great work.

Based in Flanders, in northern Belgium, Arianna is helping our colleague Arno, maintain and develop the network of volunteers working hard to protect stags.

She is writing guidance for forest workers on how best to manage their woodlands for a species that relies heavily on deadwood. And she is designing newsletters to send out regularly to the volunteers to keep them updated on what is happening and make sure they feel part of the stag beetle community. Arianna is passionate about beetles and determined to share her enthusiasm with volunteers across Europe.

This project is possible thanks to our generous donors. Can you help us continue?

Donate today