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Model stag beetle nest
This page illustrates, step-by-step, the superficial decay of a freshly cut stump in a private garden. Below the surface, a lot must also be going on because it has attracted the stag beetle Lucanus cervus. Their larvae can develop in wood just like this and in the process help it decompose.
14 October 2011
On this day, a horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) tree was felled in my neighbourhood; this tree was rather old and not that healthy. Since then the owners of this property have been most co-operative, hence have allowed me access to their garden in order to monitor it. Below is what I found.
19 May 2013
Photo by Maria Fremlin
Two years and a seven months later, the stump is showing some signs of decay. Note the small white bracket fungi on the left. Fungi are the ecosystem engineers at the forefront of wood decay. Bracket fungi are associated with white-rotted wood, which in turn is associated with some stag beetle nests.
Later on in June, it had a small emergence hole on the top, indicating that some saproxylic, wood-loving, invertebrate had already developed there.
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2 June 2014
Photo by Maria Fremlin
Two years and eight months later, increased decay. Now the stump is festooned with bracket fungi. Note the emergence hole on the seven o'clock position, which was there already one year ago. This emergence hole was not from a stag beetle, though. Stag beetles emerge in the soil close to the stump and lesser stag beetles do not have emergence holes like this either.
More good news: a few days earlier a male stag beetle had been sighted inside the summer house next to the stump. Males at the beginning of the season hang around good nesting spots awaiting for the females. I have seen this many times.
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10 June 2015
Photo by Maria Fremlin
One year later, there is now a tremendous advance in the decay of this stump. It is crumbling. The dark speck on top is a female stag beetle. She was found trying to bury herself down, close to the stump. See below.
On that day there was also a characteristic stag beetle emergence hole by the stump.
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10 June 2015
This female is trying hard to go down, presumably to lay her eggs in such a good spot. But the soil is too dry because we have had a very dry winter and spring.
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13 June 2015
Photo by Maria Fremlin
Three days later, another stag beetle emergence hole and this is excellent news.
It proves beyond doubt that this stump has become colonised by stag beetles. More importantly, this happened soon after the tree was was cut, that is during the summer of 2012. Thus it took three years for the life cycle to be completed.
13 June 2015
Photo by Maria Fremlin
Not so good news, I'm afraid. The evening before there were many stag beetles flying about; a feast for some predators, mainly magpies. Scattered on the lawn were a total of 15 males and 3 females. But it proves again that soon after emergence, both male and female stag beetles are attracted to good breeding habitats. One just wishes that the female sighted earlier was by then safely down below.
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This really is a model stag beetle nest in the sense that it has developed according to the rules, in full view.
Other stag beetle nests are much more elusive. Visit this page for some examples.
Stag beetles - all they need is love and wood
To ensure that one needs to plant trees all the time.
When did you last plant a tree in your garden, or anywhere else?
Last modified: Fri Mar 11 2016
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