Lamprima aurata | |
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Adult male | |
Adult female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Lucanidae |
Genus: | Lamprima |
Species: | L. aurata
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Binomial name | |
Lamprima aurata
Latreille, 1817
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Synonyms | |
Lamprima cuprea Latreille, 1817 |
Lamprima aurata, the golden stag beetle, is a species of beetle in the family Lucanidae. In Tasmania, this species is referred to by the common name of Christmas beetle, a name that is normally used for beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, genus Anoplognathus. [1]
This beetle has an oval, shiny body. [2] It measures between 15 and 25 mm in length. It is fairly variable in coloration, so it has been given many names by various authors. [3] The colour of the males is typically metallic golden green or yellow with colorful legs, while females may be blue, blue-green or dull brown. Females are smaller than the males, and males have larger mandibles prolonged forwards used for fighting. [4] [2]
Lamprima aurata is native to Australia and can be found in Tasmania and south-eastern mainland Australia in dry sclerophyll forests. [2]
Of the five species in the genus Lamprima, only two occur on the Australian mainland: L. aurata and the closely related L. imberbis, which live in northeastern New South Wales. [3]
The larvae are sapro-xylophagous and will spend two years feeding on rotting logs. [1] [2] Adults are free-flying and will move about on the ground during the day and drink the nectar of flowers, especially eucalypts. [2] Males can be found on rotting logs defending their territory. [2]