Current UK Distribution
Stag beetles are nowhere near as common as they once were. However they are still relatively widespread in southern England, especially the Thames valley, north Essex, south Hampshire and West Sussex. They are also found in the Severn valley and coastal areas of the southwest. Elsewhere in Britain they are extremely rare or even extinct. Persisting anecdotal evidence suggests that actual numbers are declining in many areas so this latest survey will enable us to build up a long-term picture of how the beetles are faring.
Dead wood is not the only prerequisite for stag beetles. They prefer light soils as females have to dig down to bury their eggs and newly emerging adults have to .nd their way to the surface. Therefore, areas like the North and South Downs, which are chalky, have very few stag beetles. In these areas, they occur only in ribbons along river banks which are often lined with old trees such as oak.
Similarly, there seem to be few stag beetles in the Weald between the North and South Downs, as the Downs themselves present an almost impenetrable barrier to them.
Stag beetles prefer the areas of Britain which have the highest average air temperatures throughout the year and the lowest rainfall. It is not surprising, therefore, that they are mostly restricted to the south-east with small populations in a few areas in Devon and Worcestershire.
We are particularly keen for people to hunt for stags in the counties on the border of their known range:
- Cambridgeshire
- Devon
- Gloucestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Norfolk
- Warwickshire
- Worcestershire
- Yorkshire
Please keep a special eye open if you are visiting the following places:
- Richmond Park
- Wimbledon Common
- The New Forest
- Epping Forest
