Platycerus caraboides
Encyclopedia
Platycerus caraboides is a species of stag beetle
belonging to the family Lucanidae, subfamily Lucaninae
.
These beetles are present in most of Europe
, in the Near East
and in North Africa
.
Platycerus caraboides has a flat body, green or iridescent blue. It can be easily distinguished as a stag beetle by its elbowed antennae
.
The adults grow up to 9–13 mm (0.354330708661417–0.511811023622047 ) long and can mostly be encountered from May through July, flying around during the day in deciduous forests or staying on the ground on rotten branches. The predominantly host-plants are broadleaf plants, but also conifers (mainly Pinus species). The larvae usually live on decayed wood of oak and beech.
Stag beetle
Stag beetles are a group of about 1,200 species of beetle in the family Lucanidae, presently classified in four subfamilies Some species grow up to over 12 cm , but most are about 5 cm .-Overview:...
belonging to the family Lucanidae, subfamily Lucaninae
Lucaninae
Lucaninae is the largest subfamily of the stag beetles .Characteristics include partial to complete division of the eyes by a canthus, geniculate antennae, and distinctly separated coxae...
.
These beetles are present in most of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, in the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
and in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
Platycerus caraboides has a flat body, green or iridescent blue. It can be easily distinguished as a stag beetle by its elbowed antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
.
The adults grow up to 9–13 mm (0.354330708661417–0.511811023622047 ) long and can mostly be encountered from May through July, flying around during the day in deciduous forests or staying on the ground on rotten branches. The predominantly host-plants are broadleaf plants, but also conifers (mainly Pinus species). The larvae usually live on decayed wood of oak and beech.