| Geodorcus alsobius | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Lucanidae |
| Genus: | Geodorcus |
| Species: | G. alsobius |
| Binomial name | |
| Geodorcus alsobius (Holloway, 2007) [2] | |
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 [3] in the Moehau Range on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.
Moehau stag beetles range in length (including mandibles) from 21.0 to 27.0 mm (males) and from 21.0 to 23.7 mm (females). They demonstrate sexual dimorphism. The exoskeleton ranges from dull to glossy. It is black in colour and is pitted throughout. Male specimens have an obvious depression on the head behind the large mandibles. The head is widest behind the eyes. Setae on the elytra are small. Male mandibles are large and curved with an obvious mid dorsal horizontal tooth [2]
Geodorcus alsobius has a very restricted range. This species is only found on Mt Moehau on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.
Adult specimens of the Moehau stag beetle are found under wet rotten logs and rocks at altitudes between 760m and 840m. They are nocturnal and inactive during the day. [2] Larvae have been found under decaying logs. They have been situated in the uppermost layer of soil under a log that was decaying, but had yet to become humus. The larvae occupied galleries in the rotting log that were larger than their diameter. [4]
Larvae are presumed to eat the decaying logs in which they build galleries. [4] Adults of this species have not been recorded feeding, but other Geodorcus species are known to feed on the sap of trees from their mouthpart anatomy. [2]
Introduced mammalian predators have co-existed with Geodorcus alsobius for many years. [2] Goat control started in 1956 in the Moehau area. The Department of Conservation began possum control in 1988 and rat control in 2005. Goats were eradicated in 2007. [3] Priorities for conservation of this species involves surveying Mt Moehau to obtain information on the distribution and population size. [5] In 2012, the threat status of this species was upgraded from range restricted to nationally endangered. [1]
Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies. Some species grow to over 12 centimetres, but most to about 5 cm (2 in).
Lucanus cervus, the European stag beetle, is one of the best-known species of stag beetle in Western Europe, and is the eponymous example of the genus. L. cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.
Lucanus capreolus, the reddish-brown stag 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.
The Moehau Range is the northernmost range on the Coromandel Peninsula, extending from the settlement of Colville, New Zealand northwards to the tip of the peninsula. Mount Moehau is the highest point of the range, at 892m above sea level.
Chiasognathus grantii is a species of stag beetle found in Argentina and Chile. It is known as Darwin's beetle, Grant's stag beetle, or the Chilean stag beetle.
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.
Hexarthrius parryi, the fighting giant stag beetle, is a species of large stag beetles. It belongs to the genus Hexarthrius of the tribe Lucanini. It is classified under the subfamily Lucaninae of the stag beetle family Lucanidae.
The golden stag beetle is a species of beetles 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.
Paralissotes reticulatus, also called the New Zealand reticulate stag beetle, is a native species of stag beetle from New Zealand. Although they do have wings they are flightless.
Geodorcus helmsi,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.
Geodorcus is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Lucanidae. They are endemic to New Zealand. All Geodorcus species are protected under Schedule 7 of The 1953 Wildlife Act, making it an offense to hunt, kill or possess a specimen.
Geodorcus capito is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is endemic to the Chatham Islands in New Zealand.
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.
Geodorcus ithaginis, the Mokohinau stag beetle, is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was described by Thomas Broun in 1893 after being discovered in the Mokohinau Islands by Andreas Stewart Sandager, a lighthouse keeper on the islands. The species survives only on the small unnamed island "Stack H", in a patch of vegetation the size of a living room, and is in extreme danger of extinction.
Geodorcus montivagus is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is known from only one female specimen found on the Victoria Range in New Zealand. It was found in tussock at 1,220 metres (4,000 ft) above sea level.
Geodorcus novaezealandiae is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It is the type species and smallest member of the genus Geodorcus. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Geodorcus philpotti is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was named by Major Thomas Broun after Mr A. Philpott, who discovered it at Hump Ridge near Invercargill. It is endemic to New Zealand.
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".
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".
Aegus chelifer, is a species of stag beetle found in Indo-Malaya regional countries.
