Day 157/21. A Stag Beetle.

This male Stag Beetle was sitting at the side of the path on our walk today. This one was probably around 5cm nose to tail.
Stag beetles are one of the most spectacular insects in the UK. The male’s large jaws look just like the antlers of a stag. They spend most of their life underground as larvae, only emerging for a few weeks in the summer to find a mate and reproduce. Stag beetles are quite harmless and are a joy to find.