Residents in Hampshire are being urged to watch for stag beetles and record any sightings they make.
The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) wants help with its Great Stag Hunt survey.
The charity has been running the survey for more than 25 years and uses the data to understand where stag beetles remain, where they've disappeared from and how climate change is affecting their numbers.
The beetles have become extinct in parts of Britain and Europe.
They are often spotted in gardens, parks and woodland edges, especially on sunlit walls and warm tarmac surfaces.
Read more
The PTES has provided online identification guides to help volunteers distinguish stag beetles from similar insects.
People can submit photos for verification if unsure about their sightings.
In 2024, 15,000 records of stag beetles were submitted by volunteers, with more than 2,600 recorded in Hampshire, more than 2,100 in Greater London, and more than 1,700 in Surrey.
The PTES is keen to hear from people in these areas, but also elsewhere, as sightings in unexpected regions help provide a national picture.
David Wembridge, conservation research and strategy officer at the People's Trust for Endangered Species, who runs the Great Stag Hunt, said: "Stag beetles are fascinating insects, spending most of their lives - three to five years - underground before emerging as adults in search of a mate.
"Unfortunately, their populations are under threat due to the loss of deadwood habitats from gardens, parks, and woodlands, which are essential habitats for their life cycle.
"In urban areas, stag beetles are vulnerable to traffic and footfall as they bask on warm tarmac surfaces.
"That’s why it’s so important to ensure we leave space for stag beetles and other wildlife in our towns and cities.
"Taking part in the Great Stag Hunt is a simple but powerful way for people to help us understand and conserve these incredible insects.
"We hope many people will get involved again this summer."
Share