National Museum of Natural Science

Stag beetles are distributed throughout most parts of the world. Scientists estimate that 160 million years before present, during the Age of the Dinosaurs, stag beetles and scarab beetles diverged. During a very long evolutionary process, some "more primitive" groups survived. They do not appear typical. Although they look like small scarab beetles, the abdomen and antennae are characteristic of stag beetles. 

Pictured here is a new species Echinoaesalus chungi Huang & Chen discovered in 2015. The body length is only 3-4 mm, and its appearance varies greatly from other stag beetles. 

Image source: Provided by Li Hui-Yong.

Different forms and colors of stag beetles (I)