Keep your mouth shut !!!

I think I'd keep my mouth shut if I were one of these guys . Here are some pics I took a few nights ago in pitch black with the ringflash, what do you think? And, out of interest do the beetles actually eat the mites or are they just being a pest? They seemed to be on all of the beetles bar 1.

By the way this guy wasn't dead- although he looks it.

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Very nice shots, amazing details in the carapace. I think the mites are parasites that help clean his amazing armour, but I could be wrong. Nice to see you back posting images!

Dave

Great series- haven't seen a stag beetle for a few years now. Think it's fairly common for these to have mites but not sure whether the relationship is parasitic, symbiotic or just a taxi ride
Brian V.

Stag beetles do not eat, they can only drink. give them some fruit to suck on. The mites are unlikely to be doing any good.
This is a female of course with the smaller pincers.

Thanks everyone, I'd love to know how you get to know all of this stuff as for me I'm still learnin' loads just by flickin' through this forum every couple of days.

Heres me showing up more of my ignorance - what is a carapace?

That's scary. Hope this guy is okay Very nice shots