| any of numerous lamellicorn beetles of the family Lucanidae, some of the males of which have mandibles resembling the antlers of a stag. |
| stag beetle n. Any of numerous large beetles of the family Lucanidae, the males of which have large, elaborately branched and toothed mandibles resembling the antlers of a stag. |
stag beetle
any of some 900 species of beetles (insect order Coleoptera) in which the mandibles (jaws) are greatly developed in the male and resemble the antlers of a stag. In many species the elaborately branched and toothed mandibles may be as long as the beetle itself. If handled carelessly, their pinch can draw blood from a person. In some cases, however, the mandibles are large enough to be a handicap to the beetle's movement
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