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Yup, that's the buggers. Look very similar to stag beetles, but latter only found around rotting wood. As it happens the first one I found was near a rotting log, which was why I got taken in. Gits.

These babies live in grass and eat the roots - that's why we had so many in our veg patch because it had been neglected and loads of grass had taken over. So watch out when you remove turf to make new beds/veg patch!

They also eat spuds and carrots - leave great big patches on the veg where it looks like they sucked them rather than chomped them!

The good news I that I haven't found any this year in the veg patch!

Anyone got a photo of a stag beetle lavae? I wouldnt want to be squashing those but dont have a clue as to what they look like!

They're almost identical in every respect, but stag beetle larvae are only found in old stumps and logs, etc. You *can* tell the difference but I found it very hard even with closeup photos... I'd just go with the habitat if I were you.

I can't tell the difference either. I just saw some piccies recently (can't remember which forum it was posted on) and they all look the same!

One has straight mouthparts, the others are curved. Other than that one has longer legs than the other but unless I had the two in an identity parade, who's to tell which one would can-can better?

Talking of which, (must go and do a Google) I found an enormous beetle reminiscent of a stag beetle without the horns in my cellar sink last night. This was just after I had put the dead mouse (thanks cat) out under the hedge. Then had to put the beetle out with it. Then I went to the loo and there was an interesting spider with the smallest body yet longest legs imaginable. All in all it was an interesting 'wildlife' evening!

I've found it, it was a Violet Ground Beetle, which is a carabid which are mostly beneficial beetles, eating, amongst other things.......... the dreaded chafer grub! Funny old world!

Violet beetle - sounds attractive! But I thought first, a stag beetle without antlers would surely be a hind beetle? (As you can guess, we keep deer.)