If you have a tree stump that is in the way and ugly (which unless you have placed a very nice pot on it, it will be). If you like the idea of improving your garden by making more space, removing any trip hazards and being able to mow the lawn without have to resort to  circular stripes on your lawn just to make the stump look like it is supposed to be there. If you have a social conscience that makes stump removal intellectually impossible. We have the solution for you.

You need to provide an alternative purpose built habitat for invertebrates and bugs..then you can relax with your conscience clear whilst we carefully remove your hideous eyesore of a Tree Stump.  

What you need is a LOGGERY. 

Here is an example of  one bug that needs rotting wood in which to live.

The Stag beetle is a fascinating and peculiar animal. Its larvae are an rarely seen inhabitant of old tree stumps. The odd looking thing in the photo is such a larvae, it is 2-3 inches long with a see through skin. If you have never seen one before it is a very odd thing. The graph paper gives and idea of scale, the poo gives a scale of how disturbed this larvae was!.

Managing habits for stag beetles is easy; it's more a case of 'leave alone', than doing something special. It is all to do with providing dead wood. Retention of existing dead wood is ideal, as are measures to inhibit the unnecessary destruction of dead wood during management operations. In addition, creating habitat by installing 'new' dead wood can also be useful. The following parameters should serve as a guide:

Site management

• Retain as much dead wood - logs and stumps - as possible on site - the larger the better (which helps prevent burning, vandalism or removal). If possible some of this needs to be in the shade to avoid desiccation.
• Leave windblown trees in situ, except where they pose a safety problem.
• Make sure that most of the dead wood is lying on or close to the ground.
• Ensure that a buffer zone is managed around large dead wood so that the soils and vegetation are protected as much as possible from disturbance. Ideally this should not be cut between May and September.
• Avoid stump-grinding tree stumps wherever possible.
• Identify the needs of stag beetle in site management plans, and provide particular prescriptions for management of dead wood.

Habitat creation

• If there is no dead wood on site, seek to provide this by building 'loggeries' or breeding boxes from preferably natural wood (do not use softwoods (conifers) or treated timber). These need to be on woodland edges where some degree of shade can be guaranteed.

Gardens

• Retain dead wood or install a loggery at the end of the garden (see later).
• Check the pond or water-butt during the adult flying season (May to July); they often fall in and cannot swim.
• Try and prevent cats (or other predators) from attacking the adults during the flying season.

The following are common enquiries regarding stag beetles, and their suggested solutions 

In digging up or removing a log a number of larvae are found. What does one do?

Try and carefully remove the larvae, and place them into some dead wood close by, making sure they are covered and in a cool, moist (but not wet) place.

What do adult stag beetles feed on?

They have been seen feeding on sap-runs from trees, and will feed on honey in captivity. However, many probably don't feed at all - despite their large jaws they are not carnivorous

Does one try and help a stag beetle on its back upright itself?

In roads and pavements there is little to help beetles to right themselves; they will be vulnerable to predation or crushing. If one can (using fingers, a twig, or paper) help a beetle up, and put it in a safe place.

The need for dead wood.

The stage beetle requires dead wood to complete its lifecycle. The eggs are laid underground by logs, or stumps of dead trees, and the larva (or grub) will spend up to seven years inside slowly growing in size. A wide range of woods are used, especially oak, but also ash, elm, sycamore, lime, hornbeam, apple, cherry and even some garden tree varieties. An exception, however, is coniferous species such as fir, pine and cypress, which they usually avoid. The larvae do not eat the wood of live trees and shrubs, and are thus not a pest. Instead they are an important decay agent, helping to return the minerals of dead plant material to the soil.

Adults emerge from the soil beneath logs or stumps from mid-May until late July. Males emerge earlier and appear to be more active as they search for females to mate, and can often be seen flying on sultry summer evenings an hour or two before dusk. As adults they are short-lived and generally die after mating, although occasionally some may over-winter in places such as compost heaps.

Compliance with the legislation

The stag beetle is a 'protected species.' Listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), it protects the beetle from being sold in the UK. A major threat to the species, especially in Europe, has been through private collectors (who trade in them for collections), and in certain parts of the world, such as Japan, this trade is still thriving where the beetles are kept for pets and as status symbols.

Therefore if an individual offers a beetle for sale, or removes a beetle from its habitat with the intent of sale, it may therefore be controlled by the Act. If stag beetles are found to be offered for sale, collected for sale, or a sale is witnessed, consult English Nature immediately. English Nature are the agency responsible for the interpretation of the Act, whilst the Metropolitan Police are responsible for enforcing it. There are exemptions to the implementation of the Act, and these will be spelt out by English Nature.

So be sensible with your stumps, if you have a rotten stump hidden away don't have it taken out. think about its value to your local bug community. If you have a fresh ugly tree stump and would like it removed, now you have a way of removing the eye sore and still providing a future habitat for bug life. Of course it could also provide a home for future fungal infections.....but that's another story....

For further information about stag beetles, write to the :-
People's Trust for Endangered Species, 15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, LONDON SW8 4BG (an S.A.E. would be appreciated).

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