Lucanus cervus Distribution: Southern and central Europe. In Britain, they are found in southern and southeastern areas of England. Habitat: Broad-leaved woodlands, especially oak, but also parks and gardens where there are hedgerows, tree stumps and logs. Size: Dark, violet-brown elytra (wing cases) with reddish-brown antlers (female's antlers are much smaller than the male's). Larva is creamy-white. Life-span: The larva lives 3-5 years. Adults live only between the months of May and August. Food: Larva eats rotting wood and roots. It is thought that the adult either eats tree sap or nothing at all. Photo taken with Konica Minolta Dimage Z5. Hope you like it and thanks for watching :-)