Guernsey Press

Survival of beetle species threatened by loss of old trees

The loss of ancient and veteran trees is the main driver for 18% of wood-dependent beetles facing extinction threat, experts said.

Published

Almost a fifth of Europe’s wood-dependent beetles are at risk of extinction as a result of ongoing losses of large old trees, conservationists have warned.

Saproxylic beetles depend on dead and decaying wood for at least a part of their life cycle and are important for recycling nutrients, as a food source for birds and mammals – and some are even involved in pollination.

A study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) of how almost 700 species of the beetles were doing in Europe, including the UK, found 18% of them are at risk of extinction.

Because they are reliant on dead and dying wood, the main driver of their declines is the loss of trees.

Declines in ancient and veteran trees are a major driver for the risks to the beetles (Rory Francis/PA)
Declines in ancient and veteran trees are a major driver for the risks to the beetles (Rory Francis/PA)

But some progress has been made in the forestry sector – and the importance of deadwood is being increasingly acknowledged in some countries, the conservation group said.

Other threats to the beetles include urbanisation, tourist development and an increase in frequency and intensity of wildfires in the Mediterranean, it said.

The new European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles report found that 18% of the beetles in Europe and 22% in the EU were threatened with extinction.

The beetle Stictoleptura erythroptera was assessed as vulnerable. (Herve Bouyon/PA)
The beetle Stictoleptura erythroptera was assessed as vulnerable (Herve Bouyon/PA)

Jane Smart, director of the IUCN global species programme, said: “Some beetle species require old trees that need hundreds of years to grow, so conservation efforts need to focus on long-term strategies to protect old trees across different landscapes in Europe, to ensure that the vital ecosystem services provided by these beetles continue.”

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.