Reddish-brown stag beetle
The reddish-brown stag beetle's oversized jaws look fearsome, but they can only manage a light pinch that rarely breaks human skin.
| Where | Deciduous forests with decaying wood |
|---|---|
| Size | 20 to 36 mm body length |
| When | June to August |
The reddish-brown stag beetle is glossy mahogany to reddish brown all over, with a flattened body and orange tinted hairs at the base of the legs. Males carry long, smooth mandibles used to wrestle rivals, while females have shorter, sturdier jaws with a single tooth.
Larvae spend one to three years tunneling and feeding inside rotting logs and dead tree trunks before pupating. Adults emerge at night, are drawn to porch lights, and feed on tree sap rather than solid wood.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Brown, Orange
Active
Night
To people
Mild
Can deliver a light pinch if handled, though it rarely breaks skin; otherwise no threat to people or property.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Also found in eastern North America, but males have much larger mandibles with several small teeth, compared with the single tooth on the more moderately enlarged jaws of the Reddish-brown stag beetle.
Questions
Is the Reddish-brown stag beetle dangerous to people?
Mild. Can deliver a light pinch if handled, though it rarely breaks skin; otherwise no threat to people or property.
When can you see the Reddish-brown stag beetle?
The Reddish-brown stag beetle can be seen from June to August, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by dirt_tan949, CC0, iNaturalist Licence
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Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.