Préférences écologiques des coléoptères saproxyliques emblématiques de Suisse

Ecological preferences of Switzerland's emblematic saproxylic beetles Swiss forests are home to nearly 1500 species of saproxylic Coleoptera. 414 of these are considered emblematic of specific microhabitats and may be used to evaluate the biological quality of different types of forests and wooded areas in Switzerland. This article provides a summary of the ecological requirements of these beetles based on information gathered from entomological collections and the literature. 77% of emblematic saproxylic beetles live at low altitude and 64% depend on warmth and high insolation. Oak (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and pine (particularly Pinus sylvestris) are the trees most often exploited by these beetles. 46% of saproxylic Coleoptera depend on decaying wood and 12% on heavily decomposed wood. 12% develop only in cavities in wood and 13% only in wood-decomposing fungi. We propose measures to promote saproxylic Coleoptera, namely by increasing the total amount of dead wood available (namely tree trunks and large branches) throughout Switzerland to at least 20m3/ha in the Jura, on the Plateau and the southern foothills of the Alps and 25 m3/ha in the Alps and Prealps. We also recommend the conservation of old trees that provide unique treemicrohabitats for saproxylic beetles.

Saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) of the strictly protected area Bukowa Góra in the Roztoczański National Park

The aims of this study were to demonstrate the role of forests in the Roztoczański National Park as a refuge for rare and endangered saproxylic Coleoptera as well as recognition of entomological fauna related to dead wood. The study was conducted in the strictly protected are of Bukowa Góra from 20th April to 30th September 2012 and focused on the wood of beech and fir. We inventoried saproxylic beetles by means of nine ‘Netocia’ traps, which resulted in a total of 135 recorded species, of which 52 had not been reported in the park before. Twenty-one rare and endangered species were found. The high number of new species in the Roztoczański National Park indicates a high biodiversity value of the area. Our studies therefore show that the strictly protected area of Bukowa Góra is a biodiversity hot spot of saproxylic Coleoptera.

New faunistic records of threatened saproxylic Coleoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera and Lepidoptera from the Republic of Karelia, Russia

Saproxylic insects were collected during fifteen expeditions to the Republic of Kareliain summers 1991-94. A total of 63 species (48 beetles, 15 others) included in the Finnish red data book are reported. Fourteen species of Coleoptera and Aradus ribauti Wagner are reported as new for Karelia. Notes on the biology of e.g. Hylochares cruentatus (Gyllenhal), Rhizophagus puncticollis Sahlberg, Cis fissicomis Mellié, Sulcacis bidentulus (Rosenhauer) and Leptura thoracica Creutzer are given. The number of threatened species found is striking considering the short period of time spent collecting in the field. We ascribe this to the management history of forests in Karelia, especially to the large amount of decaying wood in managed forests even. The forests in Karelia will be of crucial importance in preserving biodiversity and the last viable populations of numerous species that have disappeared in other parts of Fennoscandia.