Lamprima aurata
Species of beetle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lamprima aurata, the golden stag beetle, is a species of beetle 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.[1]
| Lamprima aurata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult male | |
 | |
| Adult female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Scarabaeiformia |
| Family: | Lucanidae |
| Genus: | Lamprima |
| Species: | L. aurata |
| Binomial name | |
| Lamprima aurata Latreille, 1817 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Lamprima cuprea Latreille, 1817 | |
Description
This beetle has an oval, shiny body.[2] It measures between 15 and 25 mm in length. It is fairly variable in coloration, so it has been given many names by various authors.[3] The colour of the males is typically metallic golden green or yellow with colorful legs, while females may be blue, blue-green or dull brown. Females are smaller than the males, and males have larger mandibles prolonged forwards used for fighting. [4][2]
Distribution and habitat
Lamprima aurata is native to Australia and can be found in Tasmania and south-eastern mainland Australia in dry sclerophyll forests.[2]
Of the five species in the genus Lamprima, only two occur on the Australian mainland: L. aurata and the closely related L. imberbis, which live in northeastern New South Wales.[3]
Biology
Gallery
Golden stag larva
Illustration of male by Des Helmore
