COLEOPTERA . 
5SS 
a substance resembling very coarse sawdust. They mature 
slowly ; it is said that the larvae of some of the larger species 
require six years to complete their growth. 
The family is a small one; only fourteen North Ameri¬ 
can species are at present known. 
The Common Stag-beetle, Lucanus dama (Lu-ca'nus da'- 
ma).—The most common of our Stag-beetles is this species 
(Fig. 672). It flies by night with a 
loud buzzing sound, and is often at¬ 
tracted to lights in houses. The larva 
is a large whitish grub resembling the 
larvae of the Lamellicorn Beetles. It 
is found in the trunks and roots of 
old, partially decayed trees, especially 
apple, cherry, willow, and oak. The 
specimen figured here is a male; in 
the female the mandibles are shorter. 
The Giant Stag-beetle, Lucanus 
elaphus (L. el'a-phus), is a large species 
found in the South. It measures from 
one and one-half inches to two inches 
in length, not including the mandibles, which in the case of 
the male are more than half as long as the body, and 
branched like the antlers of a stag. 
The Antelope Beetle, Dorcus parallelus 
(Dor'cus par-al-le'lus). — This beetle is 
somewhat smaller than the species of Lu¬ 
canus, and differs in having the wing-covers 
marked with longitudinal striae 
and the teeth on the outside 
of the fore tibiae much smaller 
(Fig. 673.) 
Several species of stag-bee¬ 
tles that are much smaller 
than Dorcus are found in this 
country. 
Fig. 672. 
Fig. 673. 
Fig. 674. 
