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Corpses of stag beetles killed by magpies
When stag beetles emerge they carry a lot of fat reserves to see them throughout the season. This makes them a tremendously appetising morsel for Magpies and all the members of their family who show great preference for their abdomen.
Corpses like the ones shown here can be found throughout Lucanus cervus range, UK and continental Europe, unfortunately.
Male stag beetle killed by a magpie found on a pavement.
Photo by Maria Fremlin. Colchester, Essex, England. May 27 2005.
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Female stag beetle magpie victim, 31 mm. This female was still alive, waving her legs up in the air, when I found her; I had captured her the day before, hence the marks on her wing case, top.
In fact, live corpses of magpie victims aren't an unusual thing to find; just click on the picture to see a video of how she was even capable of turning herself over.
Photo by Maria Fremlin. Colchester, Essex, England. July 6 2006.
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Male and female characteristic magpie victims.
Photo by Maria Fremlin. Colchester, Essex, England. July 2005.
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Victim of unknown predator
Now I'm ending this gruesome page with a live beetle and a question for you.
Who has been nibbling this stag beetle's legs and one antennae as well?
Do get in touch with me if you have got any ideas, please.
The trouble with leg nibbled stag beetles is that they fall over and then can't right themselves back again, which makes them very vulnerable, of course.
Photo by Maria Fremlin. Colchester, Essex, England. June 8 2005 21:41hrs.
P.S.: I have had some interesting feedback about this corpse. Perhaps the culprit could have been a mouse, a hedgehog or a shrew, more likely the first. Do send me photos of your leg-nibbled beetles, please!
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Last modified: Tue Jan 6 11:01:06 GMT 2015
| Main | Stag beetle predators |