Dorcus hopei
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
Dorcus hopei is a beetle in the family Lucanidae. The life history of Dorcus hopei is fairly similar to that of all beetles in the Lucanidae family. D. hopei are often in their larval state for around one to two years. D. hopei eggs are laid in decaying wood logs in forests of China, Korea, and Japan. The larvae feed on the decaying wood by utilizing a species of yeast, Pichia, that breaks down the xylose of the rotting wood. The larval stage is unique for its ability to survive the harsh winters of its native range, capable of surviving in temperatures as low as -15°C for 24 hours. This is due to their unique antifreeze proteins, a protein not found in any of their relative Lucanidae and very few insects in general.
Because of their native range, the D. hopei has developed to overwinter the icy seasons in Japan, Korea, and China. The adults live for around three to five years, often on the grounds of forests. Studies have shown that the males and females often act differently from one another, often as a result of their sexual dimorphism. The males have different mandible sizes, a common trait amongst stag beetles and often use them depending on the size of them, with... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Hope's Stag Beetle sighting in Nanjing on a given day, based on 66 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 11th most-seen of the 272 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January and May–August
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Hope's Stag Beetle in Nanjing on a given day, against under 5% in November, the lowest month. Those are among Nanjing's wettest months, with about 140 mm of rain a month against 40 mm in December.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Hope's Stag Beetle sightings, Nanjing ranks 2nd at about 20%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Hefei (China, about 20%).
Same family: Lucanidae
The closest relatives of the Hope's Stag Beetle that you can see in Nanjing (family Lucanidae, Stag Beetles) are Titan Stag Beetle (about 30%) and Serrognathus consentaneus (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Hope's Stag Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Nanjing (66 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
