About Cape Stag Beetles (Colophon)

Colophon beetles are an endemic genus of beetles, commonly called Cape stag beetles, widely sought after by collectors.  The documented distributions of Colophon beetle species are all highly localised and confined to the high-lying peaks of the Fynbos Biome, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Isolated mountainous peaks act as “islands” for less mobile species resulting in high levels of endemism and biodiversity. The cooler peaks offer refugia for species forced into altitudinal shifts due to climate change. Climate change is highly likely to be a future threat to the beetles’ habitat, as the species are restricted to high altitudes and adults are only active under moist, foggy conditions.

Our current work on these unique insects aims to secure formally protected habitat for species conservation, develop conservation management plans, and update IUCN Red List details for two Colophon species (C. eastmani and C. nagaii) in the Langeberg Mountains.