Geodorcus philpotti

Geodorcus philpotti is a large flightless species of stag beetle in the family Lucanidae. It was named by Major Thomas Broun after Mr A. Philpott, who discovered it at Hump Ridge near Invercargill.^[2] It is endemic to New Zealand.

Geodorcus philpotti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Scarabaeiformia
Family:	Lucanidae
Genus:	Geodorcus
Species:	G. philpotti
Binomial name
Geodorcus philpotti (Broun, 1914)[1]
Synonyms
Lissotes philpotti Broun, 1914[1]

Description

Including their large mandibles, male specimens range in length from 20.5 to 29 mm. Females range in length from 17.0–23.6 mm. They have a dull to slightly glossy exoskeleton. Their elytra have obvious ridges.^[2]

Distribution

This beetle is found in the south-west of the South Island from the coast adjoining the Hump Ridge Track in the south to 1400m above sea level in the regions' mountains. Its northernmost record is from the Grebe River, near Lake Manapouri.^[2]

Habitat

This species has been observed under Astelia plants and on vegetation at night.^[2]