Stag beetles

Stag beetles spend most of their life underground as larvae, anywhere from 3 to 7 years depending on the weather. They only emerge for a few weeks in the summer to find a mate and reproduce. By the end of August, most of them will have died. They do not survive the winter. During their short adult lives, male stag beetles spend their days sunning themselves to gather strength for the evening’s activities of flying in search of a mate. This is when you’re most likely to spot them.