Stag Beetle Bite: What Should You Do?

What should you do if you get a stag beetle bite? This article will tell you why you needn’t worry much.

Any insect with a pair of huge and sharp mandibles should be extremely dangerous to humans, right? Well, not always.

Big and sharp jaws should always be a concern, but not all insects are aggressive enough to attack humans and cause them harm.

Stag beetles are one such species. They look intimidating and dangerous at first glance, but the reality is different.

Yes, they can bite, but neither do they have any inclination to do this, nor do the bites have any long-term adverse effects.

In this article, we will learn more about the bites of stag beetles and why you need not worry about them.

Do Stag Beetles Bite?

Stag beetles usually do not attack humans, but if you try to grab them recklessly, they will bite. The big mandibles assisted with strong chewing muscles deliver painful bites.

However, in a typical case of sexual dimorphism, males usually have bigger mandibles than females. They use these mandibles to wrestle fellow males to obtain access to females for mating opportunities.

There are different types of stag beetles with varying biting powers.

Cottonwood stag beetle, giant stag beetle, and Cyclommatus metallifer stag beetles are some of the members of the stag beetle family that are blessed with strong chewing muscles and can harm humans through biting.

Species like the rainbow stag beetle have a weak biting force and are not harmful to humans.

How Do Stag Beetles Bite?

You will be fascinated to know that stag beetles don’t use their large jaws to bite and eat.

They use them to attract females and get mating rights. According to a study by Jana Goyens, it must be difficult for these beetles to bite with these jaws.

The main reason behind this is that it takes a lot of effort to transfer strong bite forces from the muscles in the beetle’s entire head to the tip of the mandibles.

But since the chewing muscles are strong, the bites remain effective.

How Do The Bites Compare with Other Beetles?

Since most beetles are known for their large mandibles, they can bite.

But surprisingly, not every beetle has strong enough chewing muscles to bite and harm humans. Apart from stag beetles, only a handful of other adult beetles can strongly bite.

The forceful bites delivered by blister beetles and long-horned beetles are also painful for humans. Thus, they must be handled with care.

Are Stag Beetle Bites Poisonous?

Stag beetle bites are painful and will cause problems like bleeding, swelling, redness, and irritation.

But thankfully, the bites are not poisonous and won’t cause any fatal health issues. Moreover, these bites heal themselves in a few hours or a day.

If you have an allergy to insect bites, you might need to consult a medical practitioner. A bite can cause an allergic reaction which could lead to palpitations or even shortness of breath.

What To Do If A Stag Beetle Bites You?

Stag beetle bites are not poisonous. Yes, they can be painful and will cause problems like bleeding and swelling, but they won’t have any fatal effects on the body.

The pain should subside after an hour.

If you get bit, clean the wound with water to stop the bleeding. If the pain persists, please take an analgesic or apply cold compression.

How To Get Rid of a Stag Beetle?

Stag beetles ay move close to your home and garden in search of food and warm spots. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep these beetles away:

Remove dead and decaying wood

Stag beetle larvae depend on rotten wood and decaying leaves to fulfill their diets. The female stag beetles prefer to lay eggs in areas filled with such food sources, especially tree stumps of fallen trees.

Therefore, you must run a thorough check in your garden and house to find spots with dead wood, plants, and leaves.

Once you find such spots, clean them properly and get rid of all decaying matter.

Sprinkle soapy water on infected plants

Stag beetles are attracted to infected plants in your yards. If you have such plants in your garden, sprinkle them with soap solution regularly.

You can prepare it at home by mixing some soap, water, and vinegar. Put in on a spraying bottle, and you are good to go.

Use homemade traps

Keep an eye on the areas where these beetles were spotted previously. To prevent them from returning, put a few traps in those areas.

Pitfall traps are great for this. You can make them at home using a plastic cup thin enough to allow you to make tiny holes in the bottom.

Place them near light sources, and many insects, including stag beetles, will fall for the trap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Stag beetles are creatures with one of the most unique body structures and shapes. The large mandibles give them a sturdy and intimidating look.

The fact that the males fight each other to gain mating rights adds to the fear factor revolving around these beetles.

Yes, they can bite, but they are not as aggressive and dangerous as they look. After reading this article, we hope you handle yourself better around these beetles.

Thank you for taking the time to read the article.