How to make a home for stag beetles

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 8 July 2019 at 8:43 am

Discover how to create a home for stag beetle larvae, with a bucket and bark chippings.

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To do

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Stag beetles lay eggs underground near rotting wood. The larvae of these insects live in the wood for up to five years, before pupating to become adults. Help protect this endangered species by making a simple habitat for them.

You Will Need

Bucket
Bark chippings
Soil
Craft knife

Step 1

Use a craft knife to make holes about 3 cm across in the sides and base of the bucket.

Step 2

Choose an area of your garden that will not be disturbed and dig a hole to bury the bucket so that its rim is just below soil level. Loosely fill any gaps around the bucket with soil.

Step 3

Adding bark chippings and garden soil to the bucket

Place a few large stones in the bottom of the bucket and then fill it with bark chippings and a little garden soil.

Kate Bradbury says
Dead wood is extremely important to stag beetles, particularly if it is buried underground. Stag beetles have been known to lay eggs in the roots of very old established shrubs, including forsythia and buddleia. Take great care when removing old shrubs in your garden and do try to keep tree stumps as they provide an important habitat for these endangered beetles, plus a wide range of other insects.