Abstract

Guidelines for the monitoring of Osmoderma eremita and closely related species

Highlights

  • The hermit beetle, Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763), is a large saproxylic chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) associated with hollow veteran trees of the European broadleaf woodlands

  • In order to facilitate the answer to this obligation, the Life Project “Monitoring of insects with public participation” (LIFE11 NAT/IT/000252: hereafter, MIPP) conducted experimental fieldwork to develop a standardised method for monitoring the saproxylic beetle species for the project: Osmoderma eremita, Lucanus cervus (European stag beetle, Lucanidae), Cerambyx cerdo, Rosalia alpina and Morimus asper/funereus (Mason et al 2015)

  • The dispersal activity of 39 individuals (16 males, 23 females) was followed by a 2-year radio-telemetric approach and the results showed that hermit beetles spent their lifetime inside hollow trees and in other habitats, such as under the ground surface

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Summary

Introduction

The hermit beetle, Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763), is a large saproxylic chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) associated with hollow veteran trees of the European broadleaf woodlands It is included in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora). The paper starts with a significant revision of the current knowledge on systematics, distribution, ecology, ethology and conservation of Osmoderma eremita and allied species, mostly derived from a subsequent split of the species and worthy of the same protection level. Such a review is followed by the experimental test of methods for monitoring its populations

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