Superstition sticks. I routinely salute magpies and tell ladybirds to fly away home in the hope that it will bring good luck. Many animals were once the source of more serious notions. In medieval times, people thought stag beetles could summon storms. Furthermore, they claimed these ominous insects carried burning coals and used them to set fire to houses. Fanciful myths they may have been, but see a stag beetle today and you could be forgiven for believing them still.
Because these beetles are big. In fact, they're the largest members of their order (which is the largest order of insects) in the UK and Europe. Adult males can measure almost 8cm: about the size of a human thumb. This impressive length includes those magnificent mandibles: the ruby-red ‘antlers’ that give…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2024