Stag beetle

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/stag-beetle

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Lucanidae
2. What is the diet?Adults: Tree sap, fruit juices. Larvae: Decaying wood (xylophagous)
3. What do stag beetles look like?Stag beetles are big insects with jaws that look like antlers, especially in males. They can be about 5 cm long, but some species can grow over 12 cm.
4. Why do male stag beetles have such big jaws?The large jaws help males fight each other in a ritualistic jousting contest. Winning the fight gives the male a chance to mate with females.

Sexual Dimorphism: Distinct differences in size or appearance between the sexes of an animal or plant.
Xylophagous: An organism that feeds on wood.
Bioindicator: A species that provides information about the health of an ecosystem.
Ontogenetic Shift: A change in an organism's characteristics or behavior that occurs during its development.