Neolucanus swinhoei
A black colour form of this stag beetle looks so similar to a separate species, Neolucanus doro, that the two are easily confused across the same mountains.
| Where | Low to mid elevation forests |
|---|---|
| Size | 22 to 57 mm body length |
| When | July to November |
This heavyset stag beetle has smoothly rounded, glossy wing cases in wine red to reddish brown, though some individuals, especially in central and northern parts of its range, are black instead. Body length including the jaws ranges from about 22 to 57 mm, and males have larger, more angular jaws than females.
Adults are active by day, often seen walking across mountain roads and paths at low to mid elevations, and feed on sap seeping from wounds in forest trees.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Black, Red
Active
Day
To people
Not reported to bite or sting; safe to observe as it crosses roads and feeds on tree sap.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Usually has entirely black wing cases, while most individuals of this species are wine red to reddish brown; black colour forms of the two are very difficult to tell apart.
Questions
Is Neolucanus swinhoei dangerous to people?
Not reported to bite or sting; safe to observe as it crosses roads and feeds on tree sap.
When can you see Neolucanus swinhoei?
Neolucanus swinhoei can be seen from July to November, by day.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Natural History Museum, CC0, GBIF Licence
Report a mistake in this entry
Beetles›Stag beetles›Neolucanus
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.