Working Group on Iberian Lucanidae (GTLI)

A list of webpages where one can find additional information concerning Lucanidae is given below. Special attention has been given to some addresses from Asia, because of the popularity of this kind of beetles, as well as addresses from the United Kingdom, where several ongoing projects address Lucanus cervus conservation.

Conservation
Internationa Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list categories.- This document provides details about the criteria utilised to assess the level of threat of a species.

The Bern Convention.- English text of the Bern Convention, and additional information about it.

The Habitat Directive of EU.- English text of the Habitat Directive.

Section on nature conservation of the Spanish Ministry of Environment.- Section of the Spanish Ministry of Environment which includes information about environmental laws in Spain, a list of protected species (both vertebrates and invertebrates), and a list of protected areas.

The Asian connection
In many Asian countries there is a big interest by Lucanidae and other beetles with big horns. An example of this is the accompanying new, taken from the newspaper Everyday, 22.IX.2000, edited in Stockholm (Sweden).

FIGHTS BETWEEN BEETLES ATTRACT LOT OF PUBLIC
A child from Thailand follows with interest the fight between two beetles.
In northern Thailand, fights between beetles attract lot of public and yield lot of money for the winner.

[Newspaper Everyday, Stockholm (Sweden), 22.IX.2000]

In Japan, beetles with big horns in the families Lucanidae, Scarabaeidae and Dinastidae are usual pets for many children. Many grown-ups are also devoted to beetle breeding. This hobby has unexpected consequences. On one hand, it has contributed to the recovery of species which were close to extinction. On the other hand, growers would like to introduce also foreign species, including the European Stag Beetle, Lucanus cervus. This is forbidden by Japanese authorities, and strongly dissapoints some breeders, which do not see any good reason for that law. Breeders argue that the species to be introduced will not become pests, because they feed on decaying wood. However, they forget that introduced species could overcompete native xylophagous beetles and put them again in the border to extinction.

Below, some homepages related to beetle breeing in Japan are provided.

Japanese Stag Beetle.- Homepage by Kouichi Tanida about Japanese Lucanidae. It includes a large amount of links to other similar homepages (some of them, only in Japanese). It also includes information about his recent Lucanus cervus breeding experiences (only in Japanese).

Ookuwagata (Dorcus curvidens binodulosus). The most comprehensive rearing manual for Ookuwagata you have ever seen. The bible for all Ookuwagata breeders. Version 2.0.- Homepage by Kameari Kabuto about Lucanidae breeding.

The British connection
Currently, there are several ongoing research projects in the United Kingdom related to conservation of Stag Beetle, Lucanus cervus. Below, some of them are described and links are given to the homepages of the organizations which lead those projects.

Ecology and biology of the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus.- Deborah Harvey (Royal Holloway, University of London; deborahjharvey at btopenworld.com) is carrying out her Ph D about biology and ecology of L. cervus. She expects to discover as yet unknown aspects of the biology of this species, such as clutch size, larval development, mate choice, breeding site choice, etc. She also hopes to develop a monitoring scheme for this beetle.

Stag Beetles - Love is all they need.- Homepage by Maria Fremlin (Colchester, UK) about natural history of the Stag Beetle, Lucanus cervus. The best homepage to introduce Stag Beetles to common people! It includes links to other British organizations, as well as information about the construction of pyramids and loggeries for Stag Beetle.

People’s Trust for Endangered Species.- British organization which coordinates the conservation programme for the Stag Beetle, Lucanus cervus, in the UK. It includes instructions for creation of habitat for the Stag Beetle (Bucks 4 beetles) and their own program of recording of road casualties.

Lucanidae in Europe
Lucanidae (Coleoptera) of the Baltic Sea region and adjacent territories.- Homepage by Dmitry Telnov about Baltic species of Lucanidae, with information about their conservation status.

Species Conservation Database.- The World Conservation Monitoring Centre keeps a data base on threatened species. This link goes to the available information about Lucanus cervus.