Dead Stag Beetle

Well, I'm very proud of myself. I managed to make it through the month of June with a Blip upload for every day. Now let's see if I can make it through July.

As I was going inside, after watering the garden, I noticed this dead Stag beetle on the bench outside our back door. Using a twig, I flipped it around and took several pictures. It's fascinating to see these insects up close, they have so many different mouth parts, very alien in appearance. I wonder what the function is of that little reddish orange brush-like thing that is between their pincers?