Andy Sands / Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus) larva feeding on old rotten tree root, Hertfordshire, England, UK, August

Andy Sands / Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus) female pupa uncovered from soil around old tree stump, Hertfordshire, England, UK, November

Solvin Zankl / Nature photographer Solvin Zankl taking close up images of the Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus). Niedersachsische Elbtalaue Biosphere Reserve, Lower Saxonian Elbe Valley, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) fighting on oak tree branch, , Elbe, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) pair mating on oak tree tree, Elbe, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) silhouetted against oak tree leaf. Elbe, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) male flying around oak tree in search of a female. Elbtalaue, Lower Saxony, Germany. June.

Solvin Zankl / Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) male and female during courtship. Niedersechsische Elbtalaue Biosphere Reserve, Elbe Valley, Lower Saxony, Germany

Solvin Zankl / Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) males fighting on oak tree branch, Elbe, Germany, June.

Solvin Zankl / Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) males fighting on oak tree branch, Elbe, Germany, June. Highly commended in the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018.

Cyril Ruoso / Stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) males fighting, Burgundy, France, July.

Pascal Pittorino / Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) male resting on a branch, Close up, Lozere, Cevennes, Languedoc Roussillon, France, July.