Does anyone know about stag beetle behaviour?

[legalalien]

Slightly random one.

I suspect quite a few stag beetles live in our back garden. The garden part of it is a bit wild and there are some gradually rotting sleepers which I guess they like. We see them from time to time.

This morning one of them was traversing the small astroturf bit in the middle of the garden. I relocated him or her to a woody bit. Four hours later he or she was back on the astro travelling in the other direction (same one, seems to have a small bit of paint on its back ). The neighbours are building a garden office at the moment and I wonder if he or she is a refugee? I've put him or her back in a woody bit again. Just went to check, has moved about a foot and is under a broken bit of sleeper snuffling at some wet leaves and waving legs and antennae around. Looks as though he or she is formulating a plan (probably to traverse the astro turf - back to the building site maybe?).

Where should I be looking to relocate a confused stag beetle?

[alice]

could it be nail varnish? the paint i mean. I have heard this is used to track their location. It may just be taking a break in its journey.

[siousxiesue]

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/facts-about-stag-beetle/

[KidKruger]

Not sure if sleepers are best habitat, from memory they're heavily steeped (or used to be) in creosote or similar dastardly poison/preservative. Stag beetles do thrive in a damp rotten wood environment though (if Nunhead cemetery is anything to go by).

[legalalien]

Ok - so thanks to Siouxsie - it's a girl. our sleepers look ancient and really decayed so I don't think I've poisoned her. Didn't realise the adult stage was so short. going to put out some over-ripe plums in case that helps. Fingers crossed she is on an egg laying mission.

[alice]

Sorry my info was for snails.

[Blah Blah]

Essentially stag beetles need wet wood that is partially (and rotting) underground. As you've discovered, the beetle stage is actually the end of their lives from the larvae stage. A female will almost certainly lay her eggs near to rotting wood, so you may see another crop emerge next year :)