Pseudolucanus capreolus
"Pinching Bug"
Family: Lucanidae
Pseudolucanus capreolus or commonly known as the Pinching Bug, is in the order Coleoptera and in the same family, Lucanidae, with all the other Stag Beetles. The species name is Latin for "small goat," which is probably a reference to its mandibles. They can usually be found in the Eastern part of the United States, mainly in wooded areas. These Stag Beetles can reach 22-50mm in size (including mandibles) and are reddish-brown in color. Another distinctive characteristic is the orange-brown colored femora. The mandibles in males have one "tooth" or node along the inside on each side, and they are twice as long as the female's mandibles. The females are almost indistinguishable with female Lacanus elaphus or the Giant Stag Beetle. Males on the other hand are easier to identify since the Giant Stag Beetles have larger mandibles which can be as long as the rest of the insect's body.
These beetles are actively flying at night and usually hiding under wood debris during the day. The adults are believed to feed on sap from trees or the leaves while the larvae feed on dead or decaying trees or logs where they are laid in small holes excavated by the female. Like most Coleoptera they all go through a holometabolous, or complete, life cycle. This means that they go through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Wyatt Minei
Insect Biology & Diversity (ENT 301 / BIOSC 301)
Fall 2005
