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Vanderschoors Stag Beetle

SPECIES MANAGEMENT PROFILE

Hoplogonus vanderschooriVanderschoor's Stag Beetle

Group:Arthropoda, Insecta (insects), Coleoptera (beetles), Lucanidae
Status:Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: vulnerable
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Vulnerable
Endemic
Status:
Found only in Tasmania
Click to enlarge
​​​​​​Vanderschoors Stag Beetle (Hoplogonus vanderschoori) is a flightless, glossy black, ground-dwelling beetle reaching up to 30 mm in total length. Stag beetles have enlarged mandibles (or jaws) which, in their resemblance to the antlers of a male deer (or stag), give these beetles their name. Vanderschoors Stag Beetle is found only in a small areas of native forest in north-eastern Tasmania west and south of Pyengana. The species is found in leaf litter and under logs in wet eucalypt forest, damp forest, mixed forest and rainforest. It has also been found in damp and wet gullies within dry forest. A deep layer of accumulated leaf litter is vital to the survival of this Vanderschoors Stag Beetle. The main threat is any activity resulting in exposure and drying of the soil and leaf litter. This includes activities that open up the forest canopy or disturb the forest floor, such as cutting or clearing live or dead vegetation, and burning.​​

Key Points

  • Important: Is this species in your area? Do you need a permit? Ensure you’ve covered all the issues by checking the Planning Ahead page.
  • Important: Different threatened species may have different requirements. For any activity you are considering, read the Activity Advice pages for background information and important advice about managing around the needs of multiple threatened species.
  

Habitat

  • ‘Habitat’ refers to both known habitat for the species (i.e. in or near habitat where the species has been recorded) and potential habitat (i.e. areas of habitat with appropriate characteristics for the species and within the species potential range which have not yet been surveyed).
  • If in doubt about whether a site represents potential habitat for this species, contact the Threatened Species Section for further advice.
  • The known range of Vanderschoors Stag Beetle includes a small areas of native forest in north-eastern Tasmania west and south of Pyengana, with its range centred on the St Columba Falls area. The potential range of the species is unlikely to extend beyond the known range of the species because the eastern and northern boundary is mainly surrounded by unsuitable habitat, and searches outside the eastern boundary failed to find the species.
  • Note that the ranges of the three threatened species of Hoplogonus (Bornemisszas Stag Beetle, Simsons Stag Beetle H. simsoni, and Vanderschoors Stag Beetle H. vanderschoori) occur in the same area of north-eastern Tasmania, and there is no overlap in the distribution of the three species.
  • Habitat for Vanderschoors Stag Beetle corresponds to ‘wet forest’ and ‘temperate rainforest’ in the NRE Bushcare Toolkit. See Eucalypt Bush (wet forest) and Other Bush Types (temperate rainforest) in the Bushcare Toolkit​ for more information on managing these vegetation types.
  • Habitat for Vanderschoors Stag Beetle includes the following elements: damp/wet gullies amongst dry forest, wet forest and rainforest; there is also an odd occurrence of the species in old pasture reverting back to wet forest; the majority of records are below 400 m.

What to avoid

  • Conversion of habitat (e.g. to plantation or pasture/cropping land)
  • Uncontrolled access by stock to habitat
  • High intensity burns in areas of habitat
  • Firewood collection in areas of habitat

Surveying

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Key Survey reliability more info
M Peak survey period
M Potential survey period
M Non-survey period

To ensure you follow the law - check whether your survey requires a permit. Always report any new records to the Natural Values Atlas, or send the information direct to the Threatened Species Section. Refer to the Activity Advice: Surveying page for background information.

Species Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Vanderschoors  Stag Beetle S S O O N N D D J J F F M M A A M M J J J J A A

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  • Vanderschoors  Stag Beetle can by surveyed by searching for adult animals and fragments of dead adult beetles. See the Forest Practices Authority Fauna Technical Note No. 11: Method for surveying for Hoplogonus stag beetle species for more information on surveying for this species.
  • Vanderschoors Stag Beetle is distinguished from the other threatened Hoplogonus species (Bornemisszas Stag Beetle and Simsons Stag Beetle) by the shape of the male mandibles and head.
  • For assistance in identifying stag beetles, contact the Threatened Species Section.

Helping the species

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  • ​In order to recognise the species if it occurs on your property, learn to identify Vanderschoors Stag Beetle. If in doubt, seek expert assistance with identification.
  • If you live or work in the area where the species occurs (see distribution map, above), look out for and record any observations of the species. All records of this species can provide important information on distribution and abundance
  • If you are interested in knowing for certain whether the species occurs on your land, organise a formal survey. You may need to employ an ecological consultant to do this. Your local Bushcare or Field Naturalist club may be able to assist you with a survey.
  • Important! Always report any observations of the species to the NRE Natural Values Atlas, or else provide the data direct to the Threatened Species Section. Records stored on the NVA are a permanent record and are accessible to other people interested in this species.
  • Consider the needs of the whole habitat. Preserving a threatened species' habitat is the best way to manage both the species and the environment in which it lives.
  • Habitat for Vanderschoors Stag Beetle corresponds to ‘wet forest’ and ‘temperate rainforest’ in the NRE Bushcare Toolkit. See Eucalypt Bush (wet forest) and Other Bush Types (temperate rainforest) in the ​Bushcare Toolkit​ for more information on managing these vegetation types.
  • For long-term protection of populations on private land – consider protection of habitat through a vegetation management agreement or conservation covenant.

Cutting or clearing trees or vegetation

  • To prevent permanent loss of habitat - avoid conversion of habitat (e.g. to plantation or pasture/cropping land).

Stock trampling

  • Uncontrolled access by stock to areas of forest habitat can lead to degradation of the leaf litter habitat for this species through compaction of the leaf litter and soil.
  • To prevent degradation of habitat through compaction of leaf litter and soil - avoid uncontrolled access by stock to areas of habitat.​

Burning

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  • Vanderschoors Stag Beetle can be affected by any activity (including fire) that opens the forest canopy leading to exposure of the leaf litter to sunlight and dehydration of habitat, which may in turn lead to greater predation by species such as currawongs and quolls.
  • To prevent opening up the canopy and dehydration of leaf litter habitat - avoid high intensity burns in areas of habitat.
  • The burning of forest habitat also has the effect of removing accumulated coarse woody debris (dead twigs, larger branches and rotting logs) and leaf litter from the forest floor, which can take many years to re-accumulate. A deep layer of leaf litter and accumulated coarse woody debris is vital to the survival of this species.
  • To prevent loss of coarse woody debris and leaf litter - avoid high intensity burns in areas of habitat.

Firewood collection

  • Vanderschoors Stag Beetle can be affected by any activity (including removal of standing dead trees for firewood) that opens the forest canopy leading to exposure of the leaf litter to sunlight and dehydration of habitat, which may in turn lead to greater predation by species such as currawongs and quolls.
  • To prevent opening up the canopy and dehydration of leaf litter habitat - avoid removal of dead trees for firewood in areas of habitat.
  • A deep, moist layer of leaf litter and accumulated coarse woody debris is vital to the survival of this species. Removal of dead branches, logs and other coarse woody debris for firewood leads to direct loss of habitat and exposure of the leaf litter to dehydration.
  • To prevent loss of coarse woody debris and dehydration of leaf litter habitat - avoid removal of coarse woody debris (dead branches and logs) for firewood in areas of habitat.

Agriculture

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Construction

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Subdivision

Earthworks

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Changing water flow / quality

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Use of chemicals

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Recreation

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Further information

​Check also for listing statement or notesheet pdf above (below the species image).

​​Cite as: Threatened Species Section (). (): Species Management Profile for Tasmania's Threatened Species Link. ​ ​Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Accessed on .

Contact details: Threatened Species Section, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania​, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 7001. Phone (1300 368 550).

Permit: A permit is required under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 to 'take' (which includes kill, injure, catch, damage, destroy and collect), keep, trade in or process any specimen or products of a listed species. Additional permits may also be required under other Acts or regulations to take, disturb or interfere with any form of wildlife or its products, (e.g. dens, nests, bones). This may also depend on the tenure of the land and other agreements relating to its management. ​​​​​