A WILDLIFE charity is calling on local families, individuals, and groups of
friends to save an endangered species from extinction this summer.
People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is asking Worcestershire
residents to record sightings of stag beetles on six evenings this June and
July, as part of an ongoing European study into these endangered insects.
Volunteers who take part in the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network
should easily spot the stag beetle, with some species reaching 12cm in
size.
Besides being Britain’s largest land beetles, male stag beetles also boast
large mandibles, which give them a very distinctive look. Despite their
appearance, stag beetles are harmless if left alone and play an important
role in the ecosystem by recycling the nutrients back into the soil.
PTES also encourages members of the public to record and sightings directly
to the charity, via the Great Stag Hunt – an annual stag beetle survey PTES
has been running for nearly 20 years.
Laura Bower, Conservation Officer at PTES, said: “Stag beetles are
completely reliant on dead wood and are part of the process of recycling
nutrients back into the soil, making them a very important part of the
ecosystem.”
‘’They mainly live in Britain’s gardens, parks, woodland edges and
traditional orchards, and were once widespread throughout Europe.
‘’We hope that by taking part in this European survey, PTES’ annual Great
Stag Hunt, and by making gardens stag beetle friendly, the public can help
reverse the decline of this iconic insect.”
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