main content Join in the beetlemania hitting Bromley

The emergence of stag beetles during the summer is a wildlife spectacle only a select few have the excitement of experiencing. The Council’s Conservation Team have joined forces with the London Wildlife Trust and are urging residents to take part in the London Stag Beetle Hunt, to help find out which part of the Capital Britain’s largest beetle lives in.

"The stag beetle is a special resident of the Borough. The Bromley Biodiversity Partnership want everyone to take positive action to help ensure the species does not ‘move out’ of the area. Why not join in with the London Stag Beetle Hunt? We would particularly welcome any sightings from the eastern and southern parts of the Borough" Ewa Prokop, Bromley Countryside Projects Manager, said.

Presenter, designer and keen wildlife gardener, Linda Barker, launched the campaign and is encouraging all Londoners to look out for stag beetles and to wildlife garden to help this amazing creature. The hunt will be taking place throughout all boroughs in London, after London Wildlife Trust received Heritage Lottery Funding to coordinate it.

"Stag beetles are magnificent insects, and an important part of London’s natural environment. Moreover, they are completely harmless. We need as many people as possible to join in. Let us know if you spot any stag beetles. We know it is particularly loyal to south and west London, but we have no idea of the exact figures. We urgently need an up-to-date picture of the numbers of stag beetles in London so we can understand where stag beetles are flourishing and where they are doing less well. We can then help improve stag beetle habitats across London." said Michelle Margot, Stag Beetle Officer for London Wildlife Trust.

London supports a significant number of the stag beetle population. However, the species is rapidly declining across Britain as a result of the destruction of dead wood. Stag beetle larvae live in dead wood for up to seven years while they are maturing. The ‘tidying up’ of green spaces, including gardens, is believed to be a prime reason for the stag beetle’s decline. In urban areas traffic, feet, cats and other predators also have a detrimental impact.

How to spot a stag beetle:

• You are most likely to find a stag beetle near or on dead wood.
• It’s between 5cm and 8cm long.
• It’s got large antler shaped jaws.
• The male’s jaws are very large.
• The female’s jaws are smaller but more powerful.
• Adults emerge from the soil beneath logs or tree stumps from mid-May until late July.
• Males emerge are seen flying on sultry summer evenings an hour or two before dusk.

Beetle sightings can be reported online by going to  www.bromley.gov.uk/conservation. A survey form can be requested by calling 020 8313 4665.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• This survey contributes towards the ‘Stag Beetle’ Species Action Plan element of the ‘Bromley Biodiversity Action Plan - The Future of Darwin’s Wildlife in Bromley’. The BBAP is a plan of action for wildlife in the Borough, and was first launched in 1999; the 2nd Edition (2003-5) can be found on the Bromley conservation website. The London Borough of Bromley, local landowners, nature conservation organisations and members of the public are all working together to meet the Plan’s objectives as part of the Bromley Biodiversity Partnership.
• London Wildlife Trust is a charity that works to protect London’s wildlife for the future. We achieve this through: campaigning, community involvement - we organise many free events every year; land management - the Trust cares for over 50 nature reserves; communication - we provide a popular wildlife information service; education - targeted at all ages and we run Wildlife Watch, the environmental club for junior members of the Trust. For further information go to the London Wildlife Trust website at www.wildlondon.org.uk. Publicity contact at London Wildlife Trust: Catherine Harris or Tim Webb on 020 7803 4289, charris@wildlondon.org.uk.
• To take part in the survey log on to www.wildlondon.org.uk and enter your sightings in the London Stag Beetle Hunt Survey.

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor on 020 8461 7670 or Ewa Prokop, Countryside Projects Officer on 020 8313 4665 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk.

Further information about the beetle hunt is available at www.bromley.gov.uk/conservation.