It might mean you have to get on your hands and knees, but Londoners are being urged to record sightings of the stag beetle over the next few months.
The London Wildlife Trust is hoping people will join them in recording details about the beetle so more can be done to help them prosper.
Areas of London are important locations for the beetle, with places such as Beckenham, Dulwich, Wandsworth and Richmond especially important.
However, stag beetle numbers have declined over the past 40 years and this is one of the reasons behind the survey as it is hoped more can be learnt about this most impressive of insects.
Mathew Frith, deputy CEO of London Wildlife Trust, said: "We urgently need an up-to-date estimate of the numbers of stag beetles in London so we can understand where they are flourishing and where they are doing less well.
"We’re also asking people to tell us whether they have seen species like cat, fox or magpie near the beetle. With this information, we can help improve conservation measures across London and help protect this fascinating beetle for the future."
London Wildlife Trust has created an online form for people to submit details about the stag beetles they see, asking for information such as location, habitat and surrounding observations.
Some tips on the spotting a stag beetle from the London Wildlife Trust.
• You are most likely to find a stag beetle near or on dead wood
• It is between 5cm and 8cm long
• It has got large antler shaped jaws
• The male’s jaws are very large
• The female’s jaws are smaller but more powerful
• Adults emerge from the soil beneath logs or tree stumps from mid-May until late July
• Males emerge and are seen flying on sultry summer evenings an hour or two before dusk
Comments