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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