Scarce Stag Beetle vs Hag Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Scarce Stag Beetle Hag Moth
Scientific Name Platycerus caraboides Phobetron pithecium
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lucanidae Limacodidae
Size 9-13mm 20-28 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Orchards
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Europe Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Scarce Stag Beetle

A small metallic blue-black stag beetle with modest mandibles. It develops in red-rotten beech wood.

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Did You Know?

Despite being called scarce it is actually fairly common but overlooked due to its small size and dark coloring.

Hag Moth

A furry brown moth whose larva is called the monkey slug due to its bizarre shape with curly fleshy lateral projections. The caterpillar looks nothing like a typical lepidopteran larva.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar's curly brown appendages are thought to mimic a shed tarantula skin to deter predators.