Mapping analysis of saproxylic Natura 2000 beetles (Coleoptera) from the Prigoria-Bengeşti Protected Area (ROSCI0359) in Gorj County (Romania)

In 2014, an inventory of protected Natura 2000 saproxylic beetles from the Prigoria-Bengeşti protected area in Gorj County (Romania) was made. Four species were identified: Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763), Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758), Morimus funereus Mulsant, 1862 and Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758. Using GIS mapping analysis, the distribution of these species was established in terms of the habitats described in the Natura 2000 framework. Lucanus cervus occurred over more than half of the Prigoria-Bengeşti protected area, with an overall area of occupancy of 26.10%. Morimus funereus and Cerambyx cerdo occurred in between 23.21–27.67% of the area, whereas Osmoderma eremita only occurred in 12.04% of the ROSCI0359, with area of occupancy by 11.40%. This paper presents the threats to these beetles and summarises some management and conservation issues based on the existing observations and experience at a local level.

Research paper. Data on the Beetle Fauna (Insecta: Coleoptera) in “Frumoasa” Site of Community Importance (ROSCI0085, Romania) and Its Surroundings

222 coleopteran species and subspecies, belonging to 25 families, were found between 2014-2015 during faunal sampling in “Frumoasa” Site and its surroundings. Out of them, Carabus variolosus Fabricius, Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus), Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli), Cerambyx cerdo (Linnaeus), Morimus funereus Mulsant and Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus) are species of community importance, included in the Annex II of the Habitat Directive. In addition, several endemic or rare species/subspecies were collected: Carabus gigas gigas Creutzer, C. planicollis planicollis Küster, C. obsoletus carpathicus Palliardi, Poecilus szepligetii szepligetii (Csiki), Pterostichus findelii (Dejean) and P. pilosus wellensii (Drapiez).

New Data on the Knowledge of Beetle Fauna (Insecta: Coleoptera) in the “Bârnova-Repedea Forest” Site of Community Importance (Rosci 01235, Iaşi, Romania

103 coleopteran species, belonging to 11 families were found during our faunal sampling in 2012 in the Bârnova-Repedea Forest site. Out of them Carabus variolosus Fabricius, Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus), Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, Morimus funereus Mulsant and Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus) are species of community interest, included in the Annex II of the Habitat Directive. Carpelimus gusarovi Gildenkov and Stenus doderoi Bondroit were collected by the authors, for the first time in Romania. Carabus excellens (Fabricius), a rare species, was rediscovered in this site, and specific faunistic data on the species Colon (Myloechus) dentipes (C. R. Sahlberg) are provided for the first time.

Characterization of trypsin-like enzymes from the midgut of Morimus funereus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae

The pH along the midgut of M. funereus larvae had different values, being acidic in the anterior section and basic in the middle and posterior sections. Elastase- and chymotrypsin-like activities were highest in the middle, low in the anterior, and negligible in the posterior section of the midgut. Trypsin-like activities were detected along the whole midgut, with more than 90% of activity in the anterior section. The level of elastase- and chymotrypsin-like activity was very low compared to trypsin-like activity. In the anterior section of the midgut, two isoforms of trypsin-like enzymes were found, both being basic and almost completely inhibited by benzamidine.