Dorcus parallelus

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Dorcus parallelus, more commonly known as the antelope stag beetle, is a species from the Lucanidae family. Extensive research has not been done on this species. D. parallelus has been seen to be endemic to Northern America, and highlightable features of this species would be its impressive size and distinctive antler-like mandibles useful during mating. These beetles are often compared to Dorcus parallelipipedus, the sister species mainly concentrated in Europe. [1]

Contents

Dorcus parallelus
Dorcus parallelus SERC 06-06-15 0966 (18769347982).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lucanidae
Genus: Dorcus
Species:
D. parallelus
Binomial name
Dorcus parallelus
(Say, 1824)
Synonyms
  • Lucanus oblongusde Charpentier, 1825
  • Dorcus costatusLeConte, 1866
  • Dorcus carnochaniAngell, 1916

Distribution

Dorcus parallelus is endemic to Northern America, with concentrations in the Eastern United States and Canada. One study focused on Dorcus parallelus found in Central Illinois. [2]

Sexual behavior

Dorcus parallelus displays sexual behavior to other species in the Lucanus family. After recognizing a female of interest, the male follows the female with its mandibles open, constantly palpating and flickering its antennae. A unique sound is elicited when the male bits the elytra of the female in an attempt to mount. After mounting has been initiated, the male thrusts his mandibles forward, biting the pronotum and head of the female. Female D. parallelus after a successful mating will search for a suitable decaying piece of wood to lay her eggs. [2]

Morphology

This beetle has been measured at 15 to 26 mm long with either a brown or black hue. One source documents sexual dimorphism, with the mandible of males being twice as long as those of females. While the current research on the morphology of D. parallelus is considered sparse, there are certain features that make this species distinguishable from other beetles. This species has relatively short mandibles (the paired jaws of some insects) used for mating. In the field, Dorcus parallelus is often confused with Dorcus brevis. D. parallelus is often darker in hue, with a more elongated body. Additionally, D. parallelus has a large singular tooth on its mandibles, as compared to two smaller internal teeth on D. brevis. Differences in the genitalia of the two species were also documented. [3]

Artistic interests

The D. parallelus is of immense interest to collectors and enthusiasts. Features like their color, size, and relatively unique mandibles make this species compelling to many as either pets or as taxidermy. [4]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Dorcus</i> Genus of beetles

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<i>Lucanus cervus</i> Species of beetle

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<i>Dorcus titanus</i> Giant stag beetle of the family Lucanidae

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<i>Dorcus parallelipipedus</i> Species of beetle

Dorcus parallelipipedus, the lesser stag beetle, is a species of stag beetle found in Europe.

<i>Lucanus capreolus</i> Species of beetle

Lucanus capreolus, the reddish-brown stag beetle or pinching beetle, is a beetle of the family Lucanidae. The specific name capreolus is derived from Latin, meaning "roe deer". The name refers to the resemblance of the mandibles to deer antlers.

<i>Odontolabis cuvera</i> Species of beetle

Odontolabis cuvera, the golden stag beetle, is a beetle of the family Lucanidae, stag beetles.

<i>Cyclommatus metallifer</i> Species of beetle

Cyclommatus metallifer is a species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. There is sexual dimorphism within the species. Males are generally larger in size and have enlarged mandibles. It is named for its metallic coloration, which ranges in color and may be varying levels of black, brown, or gold. This species is notably easy to maintain, making it a useful species for scientific study. Additionally, it has been kept as an exotic pet.

<i>Cyclommatus</i> Genus of beetles

Cyclommatus is a genus of the family Lucanidae, also known as the stag beetle. The majority of the species from the genus Cyclommatus are located in Southeast Asia, though some species are found in China and Taiwan as well. The genus Cyclommatus also consists of three subgenera: Cyclommatus, Cyclommatinus and Cyclommatellus. Each subgenera contains 80, 24 and 3 species respectively. In total, the genus Cyclommatus consists of a total of 134 species, though more are still being discovered to this day.

<i>Paralissotes reticulatus</i> Species of beetle

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<i>Geodorcus helmsi</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus helmsi, known as New Zealand giant stag beetle or Helms's stag beetle, is a large, slow-moving, flightless stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Dorcus rectus</i> Species of beetle

Dorcus rectus, the little stag beetle, is a species of beetles in the family Lucanidae. It can be found in China(Liaoning), Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Russia. These beetles have a distinctive red shell that separates them from Dorcus curvidens. Males of this species have been observed to have mandible trimorphism, a characteristic that has only been described in two species of Lucanidae—with the other one being Odontolabis cuvera—"and a small number of other invertebrates" as of 2017. The mandibles are used by males as weapons.

<i>Geodorcus alsobius</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus alsobius, or Moehau stag beetle, is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is found only on Mt Moehau, the highest mountain in the Moehau Range on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.

<i>Geodorcus auriculatus</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus auriculatus is a large flightless stag beetle that is found in the southern part of the Coromandel Peninsula and on Mount Te Aroha in the Kaimai range of New Zealand.

<i>Geodorcus servandus</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus servandus is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was discovered by P.R. Kettle in December 1960 and this holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. It was first described by Beverley Holloway in 2007. Its type location is Mount Tuhua summit, near Lake Kaniere on the West Coast of New Zealand. The name servandus is a Latin word meaning "[something] to be preserved, conserved, looked after".

<i>Geodorcus sororum</i> Species of beetle

Geodorcus sororum is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was discovered in 1973 by Mr. A. Wright on an expedition to Middle Sister Island/Te Awanui, one of The Sisters Islands/Rangitatahi which are part of the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. This holotype specimen is held in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. It was first described by Beverley Holloway in 2007. The name sororum is translated from Latin to mean "belonging to the sisters".

Lucanus datunensis is a species of stag beetle endemic to Tatun Mountain of Taiwan's Yangmingshan.It is first discovered in 1984. It is the smallest stag beetle in Taiwan and is an endangered species threatened by recent human activity.

<i>Aegus chelifer</i> Species of beetle

Aegus chelifer, is a species of stag beetle found in Indo-Malaya regional countries.

References

  1. ↑ "Species Dorcus parallelus". BugGuide. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 Mathieu, J. M. (October 1969). "Mating Behavior of Five Species of Lucanidae (Coleoptera: Insecta)". The Canadian Entomologist. 101 (10): 1054–1062. doi:10.4039/Ent1011054-10. ISSN   0008-347X.
  3. ↑ "Guide to New World Scarab Beetles – Lucanidae, Dorcus parallelus". unsm-ento.unl.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  4. ↑ "Antelope beetle Dorcus parallelus – Say, 1823". maria.fremlin.de. Retrieved 2024-04-05.


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