in june of 2021, I saw the first wild stag beetle of my life, here at home in Wisconsin. it was a Reddish Brown Stag Beetle, Lucanus capreolus, missing one of its mandibles. I knew it wasn't long for this world, stuck clinging to my window screen. I set it in our garden box to go about its way. I think about it often.
today, I got a tattoo to commemorate him. still very fresh and raw. but I am so happy.
This guy is a Reddish-Brown Stag Beetle and, while their most defining traits are definitely those massive mandible, they can't really generate enough force to harm you! They do bite however and that can hurt quite a bit, but as long as you're calm while handling them they tend to be fairly docile too!
so my stepmom leaves to go get cookie dough and texts me "look what's in the garage!" with a picture attached
I expect like, a bunny or a bird or something. what was in the picture?
a MOTHERFUCKING STAG BEETLE!!!!!!
so of course my entomologist ass grabs my shoes and bolts downstairs to take as many pics of this thing as I can (seen above) before placing him in the plants so he doesn't get run over or stepped on