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Short Abstract

BOB – Behavioural Observation in Beetles is the first citizen science project on beetle behaviour. In 2025, volunteers collected more than 700 observations from most of the Italian species distribution area, unveiling the hidden lives of stag beetles and engaging citizens in behavioural ecology.

Abstract

The stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is one of the largest and most charismatic beetles in Europe. Protected under the EU Habitats Directive this species is strictly associated with dead wood and ancient trees—habitats that are rapidly disappearing globally.

While much is known about its ecology and distribution, its natural behaviour still reserves unexplored aspects. This is where BOB – Behavioural Observation in Beetles steps in: the first citizen science project dedicated to the behavioural observation of the stag beetle in the wild.

BOB builds upon two successful initiatives—LIFE MIPP and InNat—which mobilized volunteers to collect distribution data on protected insects. From thousands of photos of the stag beetle submitted by citizen scientists, researchers identified key behavioural traits that could be reliably observed, laying the foundation for a new data collection protocol.

In 2025, the project was officially launched in Italy, and volunteers started collecting behavioural data on L. cervus. Through the BOB app, more than 100 citizen scientists contributed over 700 records, providing notable insights into daily activity patterns and behavioural traits concerning courtship and fight between males. This large-scale engagement not only generated valuable ethological data but also strengthened the connection between people and insect ecology.

BOB demonstrates how scientific knowledge, technology, and citizen curiosity can broaden our knowledge even of a well-known and charismatic insect such as the stag beetle.