London Wildlife Trust launches stag beetle count

Britain's largest beetle species has been in "steep decline" across much of Europe but the capital remains a "hotspot", according to the London Wildlife Trust.

The beetle, whose males have distinctive antler-like jaws, are most commonly found in west and south-west London's parks and woodlands.

North and east London has seen fewer recorded sightings over the years, which the trust says remains unexplained.

How to spot a stag beetle

• Stag beetles are 5-8cm long
• Male stag beetles have large, antler-shaped jaws
• Males often fly in the evening, before dusk, during summer
• Female stag beetles lack antlers, have smaller but more powerful jaws and are usually seen on the ground
• Adults emerge from soil under logs or stumps from mid-May to late July
• Stag beetles are found near dead wood, spending most of their lives as larvae in tree stumps and logs, growing for 4-7 years

The trust is asking people to report any sightings here.

Epping Forest, Richmond Park, and Wimbledon & Putney Commons are designated European Special Areas for Conservation partly for stag beetles, a London Wildlife Trust spokesperson said.

"Stag beetle season" began and lasts until late July, they said.

"The males fly clumsily with a faint clattering whirr, and are most likely to be seen on sultry summer evenings an hour or two before dusk."

A trust spokesperson said the species was "globally threatened" and the count would help better map the beetles' presence in London.

-bbc