Arthropods • Earth.com

Hexarthrius mandibularis

(Hexarthrius mandibularis)

Description

Hexarthrius mandibularis is the world's largest fork-horned stag beetle. It belongs to the tribe Lucanini, in the family Lucanidae. This beetle has a dull, dark, brick reddish body. Both the legs and antennae are blackish. The most notable characteristic are the large, antler-like mandibles. These have small teeth running down the inside edge, with one large, forward-pointing pair located approximately a third of the way down from the tips. The tips are forked inward somewhat. During the larval stage, Hexarthrius mandibularis lives in rotten hardwood, feeding on it. Later, during the imago stage, it consumes tree juice.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Insecta
Order:Coleoptera
Family:Lucanidae
Genus:Hexarthrius
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