The monitoring of the stag beetle

In the months of June and July 2026, monitoring of the stag beetle will commence in the Natural Park of the Avigliana Lakes. The staff from the Biodiversity and Surveillance areas of the Parks of the Cozie Alps have decided to undertake a scientific activity to control the Lucanus cervus, which is listed by the European Union as a protected species under the Habitat Directive and considered to be in decline. The aim is to assess its health status in the most suitable territory among those managed by the Park Authority.

The monitoring protocol

The procedure for counting stag beetle individuals follows a rigid, standardized, and scientifically validated protocol that can be replicated providing comparable results year after year. First, it takes place on a so-called transect, a linear path measuring 500 m in length and 10 m in width, which two operators must walk from 15 minutes before sunset to 15 minutes after. An observer walks along, looking up for flying male individuals and on the ground for females near logs and wood, while a colleague marks any sightings.

The transects

In the area of the Avigliana Lakes, 2 transects suitable for this work have been identified: the first from Baia Grande to the road of the Palude dei Mareschi along the shores of the Lago Grande, and the second in the area of the village San Bartolomeo near the Lago Piccolo. They are marked with some signs—which regular visitors may have already noticed—indicating the distances to allow operators to comply with the procedures that require concentrating observations for 6 exact minutes every 50 meters of the route. Monitoring is carried out once a week on each transect. Anyone who happens to encounter an observer focused on scanning the bases of trees or looking up towards the crowns, followed by a colleague taking notes, is kindly asked not to distract them from their work until they reach the end of the designated path. Afterwards, they will be happy to answer any questions and curiosities.

Raising awareness among visitors

Those interested in deepening their knowledge of this large and interesting insect can consult the page of the section Parcopedia on this site dedicated to the stag beetle. In addition, the collaboration of everyone is welcome through the reporting of any sightings that can be entered into the iNaturalist portal by connecting to the Protected Areas of the Cozie Alps project. For more information, visit the dedicated page.