The message m
from Tim Challenger "timothy(dot)challenger(at)apk(dot)at" contains
these words:
On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 19:39:05 +0100, JennyC wrote:
"shazzbat" wrote in message
...
"Jim Paterson" wrote in message
...

Turning a compost heap the other day I discovered 44 stag beetle larvae.
Needless to say I put them back safely, I hope.
This is the most I have ever seen of this in one heap. Anyone else come
across this ?

In a compost heap? Their habitat is in large lumps of rotten timber.

Educate me if you'll be so kind. What do stag beetle larvae look
like? I am
in southern England and I'd like to know in case I've got any.
Steve.

http://maria.fremlin.de/stagbeetles/larva.html
Jenny

Apart from the little rattle they do, and the sort of elongated tip to the
abdobmen, they look remarkable similar to loads of other beetle larvae.
Especially cockchafer. I'll look more closely at by beetle grubs next time,
just in case.

If you come across a big white maggot the size of your thumb, and it has
a rather bulbous tail-end and well-developed mandibles on a
mahogany-coloured head, you almost certainly have a stag beetle larva.

--
Rusty Hinge