PEOPLE across West Somerset are being asked to record sightings of the spectacular stag beetle or their larvae from now into July as part of a nationwide annual survey called the ‘Great Stag Hunt’.

Stag beetles were once widespread, but have been in decline due to habitat loss and have even become extinct in some parts of Britain and Western Europe.

To try to prevent further decline the wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for nature lovers, families, and individuals to help.

There was only one recorded sighting of a stag beetle in Somerset last year, so PTES is keen to hear from anybody in the county who spots the creature in 2023 to assess if numbers are similar, or have increased or decreased.

All sightings of male and female stag beetles and their larvae, which are large, white grubs, can be reported online at www.ptes.org/gsh.

Stag beetles are easy to spot – they are the UK’s largest land beetles and the males are instantly recognisable with their antler like jaws.

From late May into July the iconic insects emerge from the ground in search of mates, and are often spotted flying around gardens, parks, and allotments on warm summer evenings.

They can also be seen on walls and warm tarmac surfaces in urban areas, and in green spaces such as woodland edges, hedgerows, and traditional orchards.

PTES conservation officer Laura Bower said: “Last year almost 10,000 sightings were recorded by thousands of volunteers, giving us a real insight into where their range is, which is crucial for the species’ long-term survival.

“More help is always needed though, so whether you are out in the garden, dog walking in a local park, on the school run, or even walking to the pub, keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful beetles and tell us about any you see.

“You do not need to be a beetle expert or have taken part before, as PTES has a free ‘beetle ID’ guide to help anybody new to the survey to help them tell the differences between stag beetles and other insects.”

Last year, the highest numbers were spotted in Hampshire (2,115), Greater London (1,781), Surrey (1,277), Berkshire (876), and Dorset (754).

Stag beetles usually prefer warm areas with lower annual rainfall and light soils, and as a result are widespread in southern England, excluding the North and South Downs, where the soil is chalky. There are also hotspots in the Severn Valley and in coastal parts of the Westcountry, and last year PTES received its first-ever record of a stag beetle in the Lake District.

Those who regularly see stag beetles can join an additional ‘Stag Beetle Count’ survey which enables PTES to understand how population numbers might be changing year on year.

The extra survey only requires volunteers to walk along a local transect looking for stag beetles for 30 minutes, six times over June or July, on warm sunny days.

Volunteer Gemma Alford, who took part in thr extra survey last year, said: “I have enjoyed getting out looking for stag beetles during my transect walks, often accompanied by one of my children or my husband.

“It is always exciting to spot a stag beetle and we have had other magical moments, too, including observing noctule bats hunting around trees.”

Another way to help stag beetles is to build log piles or pyramids in gardens. Logs, tree stumps, fallen branches, or old firewood should be buried upright in soil to provide a vital food source for larvae which feed on deadwood, as well as offering shelter and a place for female stag beetles to lay their eggs.

Once the log pile has been created, its location can be recorded online to allow PTES to see where the important habitats exist, and to inspire others.

To take part in the ‘Great Stag Hunt 2023’ or for tips on creating a log pile, or to find out more about stag beetles, visit www.stagbeetles.ptes.org.