The golden stag beetle (''Lamprima aurata'') is a species of
beetle
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
s in the family
Lucanidae
Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies.Smith, A.B.T. (2006). A review of the family-group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) with corrections ...
. In
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, this species is referred to by the "common name" of Christmas beetle, a name that is normally used for beetles in the family
Scarabaeidae
The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 30,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change in recent years. Several sub ...
, genus ''
Anoplognathus''.
Description
This beetle has an oval, shiny body.
It measures between 15 and 25 mm in length. It is fairly variable in coloration, so it has been given many names by various authors.
[C.A.M. Reid, K. Smith, M. Beatson (2018) Revision of the Genus ''Lamprima'' Latreille, 1804 (Coleoptera: Lucanidae). Zootaxa. 4446(2); 151–202. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4446.2.1] The colour of the males is typically metallic golden green or golden yellow, while females may be blue, blue-green or dull brown. Females are smaller than the males, and males have larger mandibles prolonged forwards used for fighting.
[
]
Distribution and habitat
''L. aurata'' is native to Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and can be found in Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
—mainly Victoria—and south-eastern mainland Australia in dry sclerophyll forests.[
Of the five species in the genus ''Lamprima'', only two occur on the Australian mainland: ''L. aurata'' and the closely related '' L. imberbis'', which live in northeastern ]New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
.
Biology
The larvae are sapro-xylophagous and will spend two years feeding on rotting logs.[ Adults are free-flying and will move about on the ground during the day and drink the nectar of flowers, especially eucalypts.][ Males can be found on rotting logs defending their territory.][
]
Gallery
File:Lamprima aurata larva.JPG, Golden stag larva
File:COLE Lucanidae Lamprima aurata m.png, Illustration of male by Des Helmore
Desmond W. Helmore (born 1940) is a New Zealand artist and illustrator, known both for his fine art and for his scientific work depicting insects, not least illustrating the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. One of the country's most noted and ...
References
External links
''L. aurata''
at CSIRO
Beetles of Australia
Beetles described in 1817
Lampriminae
{{Lucanidae-stub