Stag Beetles

I regularly find Stag Beetle larvae when digging my allotment,should I regard them as a pest?

 

In essence - no. They are recyclers and in decline and worth encouraging.
See this link >
http://frontpage.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/atfnews/images/stagbeetles.pdf

 

Are you sure they're stag beetle larvae and not leather jackets or vine weevils?

The reason I ask is that stag beetle larvae live in rotten wood, particularly roots of old trees. I would have thought you would only find them by digging if you were taking out woody stumps.

I took part in the national stag beetle survey in 1998 and the reported findings showed that the beetle larvae could be found in almost any kind of rotten wood, from oak to privet.

Like Dave says, stag beetles are not harmful and are fascinating creatures. One of the few large flying insects that are quite content to sit in your hand.