My Beetles are finally out! While I've done 10 species total (counting the base set and Volume 1), I'll probably be doing more... There are about 400,000 described species making it the largest of all orders and about 25% of all known animal species. The Stag Beetle gets its name because the males enormous jaws (palps) resemble a stags antlers. It lives in woodland edges, hedgerows, traditional orchards, parks and gardens throughout Western Europe, including Britain – but not Ireland. They are relatively widespread in southern England and live in the Severn valley and coastal areas of the southwest. Elsewhere in Britain they are extremely rare or now extinct. The most obvious problem for stag beetles is a significant loss of habitat. Development will continue to reduce stag beetle habitats, but increased awareness of their existence can help defend the beetles against development. In addition the cleaning up of woodlands, parks and gardens has led to the removal of dead or decaying wood habitats which is the stag beetle larvae’s food source. Tree surgery operations such as stump-grinding of felled trees removes a vital habitat for the beetle. Humans are, unfortunately, the most direct threat to stag beetles.