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Broad-toothed Stag Beetle (Lissotes latidens)

The Broad-toothed Stag Beetle is a beetle found only in Tasmania, with its range centred on Wielangta Forest in the east. It lives and breeds in moist decaying wood beneath fallen logs, so retaining damp forest-floor habitat and rotting timber is important for works planning.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity or breeding months were found in the published sources used. Use the following as a works-planning prompt, not as seasonal biology.

Seasonal knowledge: Not documented in the sources used.

The month values are a general planning prompt only and do not represent known activity or breeding months for Lissotes latidens.

  • Plan checks before disturbance: General planning window only. Check the work area before disturbance whenever works are scheduled.

Identification: Appearance

This is a relatively small, flightless stag beetle. Males have distinctive bull-horn-shaped mandibles.

This is a relatively small, flightless stag beetle. Males have distinctive bull-horn-shaped mandibles.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species is restricted to Tasmania, with its known range centred on Wielangta Forest in eastern Tasmania. It has been recorded at fewer than 40 sites across an area of about 280 square kilometres; another account reports populations in southeastern Tasmania, including Maria Island.

The species is restricted to Tasmania, with its known range centred on Wielangta Forest in eastern Tasmania. It has been recorded at fewer than 40 sites across an area of about 280 square kilometres; another account reports populations in southeastern Tasmania, including Maria Island.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It is associated with wet eucalypt forest and moist forest-floor conditions. Fallen and decomposing timber, moist soil and a developed understory are important habitat features.

It is associated with wet eucalypt forest and moist forest-floor conditions. Fallen and decomposing timber, moist soil and a developed understory are important habitat features.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

The beetle lives and breeds in moist decaying wood beneath logs on the ground. Larvae and adults have been found around the soil and decaying-wood interface.

The beetle lives and breeds in moist decaying wood beneath logs on the ground. Larvae and adults have been found around the soil and decaying-wood interface.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It is found beneath rotting logs and in the upper layers of soil, including around the interface between soil and decaying wood.

It is found beneath rotting logs and in the upper layers of soil, including around the interface between soil and decaying wood.

Threats: Threats

The species is particularly vulnerable to habitat disturbance because it depends on moist forest-floor conditions, decaying logs and surrounding soil. Its inability to fly also limits the ability of fragmented populations to colonise new areas.

The species is particularly vulnerable to habitat disturbance because it depends on moist forest-floor conditions, decaying logs and surrounding soil. Its inability to fly also limits the ability of fragmented populations to colonise new areas.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or construction that removes or disturbs wet forest, fallen decaying timber, moist soil or the forest understory could affect its habitat. Fragmenting habitat may also limit movement between areas because the beetle cannot fly.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Eucalypt forest

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It is associated with wet eucalypt forest and moist forest-floor conditions.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: TAS.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources