Giant stag beetle [Lucanus elaphus larvae]

You will receive a Lucanus elaphus larvae with enough flake soil to last it a few weeks 

Caring for Lucanus elaphus larvae, commonly known as the giant stag beetle larvae, requires attention to their habitat, diet, and environmental conditions. Here’s a care guide to help you:

### Habitat Setup:

1. **Enclosure**: Use a plastic container or glass terrarium that is spacious enough for the larvae to move around freely.

2. **Substrate**: Provide a substrate of moistened flake soil  sawdust or  top soil with rotting wood chips. This mimics their natural environment and helps maintain humidity.

3. **Humidity**: Keep the substrate consistently moist but not waterlogged. Use a spray bottle to mist the substrate regularly to maintain humidity levels.

### Diet:

1. **Primary Food**: Lucanus elaphus larvae are wood-feeders. Provide them with decaying hardwood such as oak, maple, or beech. This can be substituted with fermented sawdust also known as flake soil 

2. **Feeding Schedule**: Replace the wood regularly to ensure they have access to fresh, decomposing material. Larvae will burrow into the wood to feed.

### Temperature and Lighting:

1. **Temperature**: Keep the enclosure at room temperature (around 20-25°C or 68-77°F). Avoid sudden temperature fluctuations.

2. **Lighting**: They prefer low light conditions, so keep the enclosure in a shaded area away from direct sunlight.

### Handling:

1. **Minimal Handling**: Avoid handling the larvae unnecessarily as they can be sensitive to stress.

2. **Cleaning**: changethe out the larvaes soil once it fills with frass pelletsto provide maximum growthconditions.

### Development Stages:

1. **Growth**: Lucanus elaphus larvae go through several stages (instars) as they grow. Provide adequate space and food to accommodate their increasing size.

2. **Pupation**: Eventually, the larvae will pupate and transform into pupae. Provide a suitable substrate (like moist  flake soil) for pupation, which occurs before they emerge as adult beetles.

### Additional Tips:

- **Observation**: Monitor the larvae regularly to ensure they are active and feeding. Changes in behavior or appearance can indicate health issues.

By following these guidelines, you can create a suitable environment for Lucanus elaphus larvae and observe their fascinating growth from larvae to adult beetles.