Natura 2000 is a network of sites created by the European Union for the protection and conservation of habitats, animals and plants identified as priority species by the EU Member States. Sites belonging to the Natura 2000 Network are “Special Areas of Conservation” established by the Habitats Directive and “Special Protection Areas” identified under the Birds Directive (Directive 79/409/EEC).

The LIFE programme is an instrument of the European Union that finances projects which contribute to sustainable development. The LIFE+ programme promotes, in particular, three components: “Nature and Biodiversity”, “Environmental Policy and Governance” and “Information and Communication”. The LIFE+ project MIPP was funded under the component “Nature and Biodiversity”.

Each LIFE project consists of several Actions for which the various beneficiaries are responsible. The Actions A (Preparatory Actions) of the project MIPP are concerned with: a literature review of the methods proposed for the monitoring of the five species of beetles, the definition of the research to be carried out and the creation of a website.

The seven Actions C are mainly concerned with the development of monitoring methods for the five beetle species Osmoderma eremita, Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo, Rosalia alpina and Morimus asper. The research, carried out in five Italian forests, allowed to define methods to ascertain the conservation status of their populations with relatively little effort. Another Action C focuses on the collection of faunistic data, gathered by citizens.

The 13 Actions E of the project MIPP are all concerned with dissemination. The numerous activities include: guided tours, technical seminars, internet pages, organisation of a European workshop, publication of guidelines, visits to other LIFE projects, publication of articles in newspapers and magazines, TV and radio interviews and publication of a Layman’s report.

The Actions F are concerned with the management and administration of the project (personnel, finances, actions), as well as the drafting of an “After-LIFE Plan”. This plan sets out how monitoring and collection of faunistic records with the help of citizens will be continued once the project MIPP is concluded.

A saproxylic is an organism that depends on the presence of dead wood. A well known example are the woodpeckers (e.g. Great Spotted Woodpecker), which feed on insect larvae living in dead logs. Also, amongst insects, many species depend on the presence of dead wood. However, not all saproxylics feed directly on woody material; many are in fact predators or parasites of xylophagous insects. Others feed on fungi or on other organisms which live in dead wood. This complex food chain is based on the energy and on the nutrients accumulated for decades or centuries by a growing tree. Once a tree is dead, the slow and complicated process of wood decay begins. Primary saproxylics, like longhorn beetles, begin colonising the trunk and create galleries. These provide access to the wood for many other species, such as fungi and other insects. In this way, the wood becomes a habitat with a high biodiversity. It is estimated that more than 30% of all forest species are saproxylics. Therefore the removal of dead trees from the forest results in a very important loss of biodiversity and this includes many rare and protected species. Many of these are extinct in numerous forests and survive only in some natural reserves. Saproxylics are of fundamental importance for the ecology of forests as they play a key-role in the recycling of wood.

Osmoderma eremita – The larvae of Osmoderma eremita live exclusively in tree cavities rich in “wood mould”. Important factors for the presence of this species are cavities with the right level of moisture, as well as a sufficient number of trees with cavities. This species can be found in forests, avenues and parks with mature trees such as oaks, beech trees, willows or mulberries.

Lucanus cervus – The stag beetle is amongst the largest beetles in Italy and in Europe and its most striking feature are large jaws, present only in males. The larvae live in decomposing wood, generally oak trees and complete their development in 3-5 years.

Cerambyx cerdo – Cerambyx cerdo is a large beetle with long antennae. Its main habitats are oak forests in the plains and hills, urban parks and the countryside where old oak trees are still present. The species prefers trunks exposed to the sun and here the larvae feed on oak wood and develop in 3-4 years.

Rosalia alpina – Rosalia alpina is a very distinctive species; its vibrant blue-grey colour with black spots on the elytra and the black-striped antennae make this beetle unmistakable. It typically lives in beech forests between 500m and 1500m a.s.l., where the larvae feed on the dead wood of large beech trees, preferably in standing trunks.

Morimus asper/funereus – The taxonomy of the genus Morimus is complicated and includes populations which vary widely in colour. It is believed that all European populations belong to one species, M. asper. This species is amongst the first to colonise fallen trees and the larvae live on freshly dead wood.

The research of the LIFE project MIPP was carried out mainly in five forest areas, most of these being managed by the Comando Unità per la Tutela Forestale, Ambientale e Agroalimentare (Command Unit for the Protection of Forests, Environment and Food) of the Carabinieri (CUTFAA). In larger areas, such as the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, research was conducted in specific sites. All study areas are an integral part of the Natura 2000 network and, for each of these, several target species have been recorded. The data collected in the various reserves often represent the first quantitative data for the target species of the MIPP project.

1. Bosco della Fontana

The nature reserve Bosco della Fontana is located in the province of Mantova, at approximately 25m a.s.l. It is managed by the CUTFAA – Reparto Biodivesità di Verona. This ancient forest, which covers an area of 200 hectares, is one of the last remnants of the oak-hornbeam forests that once covered the entire Po Valley. The Reserve is home to populations of Lucanus cervus, Morimus asper asper and Cerambyx cerdo; a few kilometres from the reserve, a population of Osmoderma eremita can be found.

2. Parco naturale regionale delle Prealpi Giulie

The Parco naturale regionale delle Prealpi Giulie covers an area of about 9400 hectares and is located in the mountains close to the Slovenian border, at an altitude between 300 and 2587m a.s.l. Beech forests, which cover 60% of the total area, are the dominant forest type. The next most important forests are those of black pine and Scots pine. These forests are home to populations of Morimus asper funereus, Rosalia alpina and Lucanus cervus.

3. Bosco della Mesola

The reserve Bosco della Mesola is located in the province of Ferrara, at an altitude of approximately 3m a.s.l. and is managed by the CUTFAA – Reparto Biodivesità di Punta Marina. The reserve covers an area of 1058 ha and the “Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests” and “Eastern white oak woods” are the dominant forest types. The research conducted during the project MIPP focused on monitoring methods for Cerambyx cerdo and Morimus asper asper.

4. Foreste Casentinesi

The research was carried out in two forests (Foresta della Lama and Castagneto di Camaldoli), located in the Apennines between Tuscany and Romagna. These are managed by the CUTFAA - Reparto Biodivesità di Pratovecchio. Another site, the Sasso Fratino natural reserve has recently become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All these reserves are located within the National Park Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna, home to four target species: Lucanus cervus, Osmoderma eremita, Rosalia alpina and Morimus asper asper.

5. Castel di Sangro

The National Park Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise is one of the oldest parks in Italy, situated mostly in the region Abruzzo. Research for the project MIPP was conducted in four sites: Difesa di Pescasseroli, Val Fondillo, Riserva Naturale Orientata Feudo Intramonti and Colle di Licco, Zio Mas. The latter two are managed by CUTFAA – Reparto Biodivesità di Castel di Sangro. The research carried out in this study area was dedicated to the development of monitoring methods for Osmoderma eremita and Rosalia alpina.

The methods tested for the monitoring of the five species of beetles were based on a detailed literature review to define the most appropriate approaches. These methods had also been critically reviewed by 15 experts from other European countries. The methods for each species were tested for 3 years in two different study areas. As a result of this work, the most suitable methods were identified, considering ecology, micro-habitat and phenology.

Lucanus cervus

Although the stag beetles are active mainly in June and July, adults are cryptic and difficult to find in the forests. However, males are easily observed around sunset when they fly to locate females. Thus, two methods tested were based on sighting and capturing specimens at sunset, along 500m transects. A third method applied was the collection of remains of dead individuals. The fourth method used traps, with an attractant containing alcohol and sugar.

Osmoderma eremita

Although the adults of Osmoderma eremita are active mainly in July and August, they are difficult to observe even during this phase as they often hide in tree cavities, the habitat of the larvae. During the project, window traps suspended from branches with pheromone lures, pitfall traps placed in the cavities and wood mould sampling were tested. Another method applied was the detection dog “Osmodog”, trained to find the larvae of Osmoderma eremita.

Cerambyx cerdo

The adults of Cerambyx cerdo are present mainly in June and July and are most active in the evening/night. During the project MIPP four methods were tested: artificial sap (made from the sap of the manna ash) as an attractive bait, traps with an attractant containing alcohol and sugar (wine, beer, fruit, sugar), Visual Encounter Surveys on tree trunks and collecting remains of predation along 500-metre transects.

Rosalia alpina

The adults of Rosalia alpina are present mainly in July and August and are generally active during the hottest hours of the day. This makes it relatively easy to fnd them. For the monitoring, two types of trunks were used. The frst type was suitable “natural” trees (i.e. trunk with dead wood and exposed to direct sunlight, at least for a few hours during the day). The second type was “artifcial” structures, such as tripods made with beech wood or large logs placed on the ground. On these structures, adults were searched for visually.

Morimus asper

Morimus asper adults are present for a very long time during the year; from April to August and are most active in the evening/night. During the project MIPP various methods were tested, such as pitfall traps with potentially attractive substances. In addition, the attractiveness of several artificial structures was investigated: large trunks, stumps and wood piles made from freshly cut wood. On these structures, adults were searched for visually during the evening, with the help of a torch.

A variety of dissemination activities were carried out by the MIPP staff during 2014 - June 2017 in several areas of Italy. These activities aimed to: 1) communicate the topics of the project such as the protection and conservation of old forest, saproxylic insects, dead wood and the knowledge of Natura 2000 and Habitats Directive; 2) recruit people to record the 9 insects studied by the MIPP project.

The MIPP staff encountered citizens “face-to-face” during seminars, workshops, dissemination events in cities, in science museums and in nature reserves. Other means used to contact the public were talks and posters at conferences and guided tours. Additionally, a specific education programme, named “MIPP-iacciono gli insetti”, for schools was carried out in several Italian regions and a dedicated booklet was produced. The general public, as well as specific audiences, such as pupils from primary and high schools, students and professors from universities and technical personnel of nature reserves, were involved in the above activities. A total of 449 activities were carried out during 2014 - June 2017, reaching an approximate number of 15135 citizens (Table A).

Table A.Download as CSV 

Number of “face to face” dissemination activities (Activities) and number of citizens (Citizens) reached from 2014 to June 2017. (NA=data not available).

	2014		2015		2016		2017		Total
	Activities	Citizens	Activities	Citizens	Activities	Citizens	Activities	Citizens	Activities	Citizens
Seminars and Workshops	24	617	30	2064	26	652	7	334	87	3667
Divulgation events	18	545	20	968	18	1539	1	16	57	3068
Conferences	4	50	2	140	3	NA	1	NA	10	190
Guided tours	9	437	52	1366	4	170	3	128	68	2101
Educational activities at school	58	1923	70	1862	60	1370	39	954	227	6109
Total	113	3572	174	6400	111	3731	51	1432	449	15135

Media-related communication activities by the MIPP project were the web site www.lifemipp.eu, social networks (Facebook, YouTube and Twitter), two documentaries screened on national TV, 17 interviews on national TV and Radio channels, monthly press releases and 145 magazine/newspaper articles (Table B). Additionally, specific educational material was produced, such as identification guides (available online), posters (950 copies), leaflets (65000 copies printed), booklets (17600 copies), comic-strips “Osmodog” (36 produced in collaboration with a graphic studio) and notice boards (35 installed in 10 nature reserves).

Table B.Download as CSV 

Number of dissemination activities performed by media tools from 2014 to June 2017.

	2014	2015	2016	2017	Total
Documentaries	1	1	0	0	2
Press releases	9	12	13	8	42
Magazines and newspaper articles	42	37	48	18	145
Interviews on TV or Radio	4	5	4	5	17
Total	56	55	65	30	206

To maintain contact with citizen scientists, reports and news were sent to all participants in a bimonthly newsletter. As an incentive, MIPP citizen scientists were able to keep track and visualise their records on a map on the website. At the end of each season, participants were rewarded with small gadgets, relating to the number of records sent.

Citizens are called upon to provide records for 9 protected species of insects. In addition to the 5 species of saproxylic beetles, the other target species are: 3 species of butterflies (Lopinga achine, Zerynthia polyxena/cassandra and Parnassius apollo) and the bush cricket Saga pedo. These additional 4 species, all included in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, have been selected as they are relatively large and can be determined with relative ease, even if they are not related to the forest environment or dead wood. The records provided by citizens are important for assessing the geographical distribution of these species in Italy, one of the parameters used to establish their conservation status, as temporal variations in distribution assist in the understanding of whether a species is in decline or expanding.

Records can be sent using the project portal (www.lifemipp.eu) or via a dedicated app (MIPP). Both tools allow the complete set of information to be sent including: coordinates, date of observation and photograph of the animal. The following optional information can also be transmitted: place and habitat where the individual was photographed. The portal as well as the app contains a section dedicated to the identification of the target species, with species charts that can be consulted by citizens. All records which have been submitted and confirmed by the project’s experts are displayed to the general public. The recorders receive e-mails containing updates on the status of the record and the result of the validation. The experts of the project can also directly contact the recorder to ask for additional information, if needed for the validation process. All records, those confirmed and also those rejected, are retained in the project database. The confirmed records are made available to the National Network of Biodiversity (the national database on the distribution of Italian species of the Ministry of the Environment).

Between 2014 and 2016, a total of 695 citizens submitted records to the project (182 in the first year, 295 in the second year and 335 in the third year). Of the 2308 records sent, 71.6% were submitted via the web portal and 28.4% via the app. For all data submitted, 73% were confirmed. Lucanus cervus was the most commonly recorded species (605 confirmed reports), followed by Morimus asper and Rosalia alpina. In contrast, Osmoderma eremita and Saga pedo were confirmed to be the most elusive species, with the lowest number of records received.

The data sets for the 4 species with most records (see above plus Parnassius apollo) also allowed aspects of their ecology to be analysed, such as altitudinal distribution (records from various altitudinal range), activity period (phenology) and how phenology varies in relation to altitude. These analyses showed that peak activity (the period of time with the highest number of records) moved forward during the season at a higher quota. For Lucanus cervus and Morimus asper, it was also found that the length of the activity period decreased with increasing altitude.

Lopinga achine the species occurs in clearings or along forest edges. In Italy, it is present exclusively in the Alps, from approximately 300m to 1600m a.s.l. Adults are active between June and July. The caterpillars feed mainly on the sedge Carex montana.

Parnassius apollo the species is mainly found in alpine and sub-alpine dry grasslands, on sunny and rocky slopes, generally above 1000m a.s.l. The caterpillars feed on plants of the genera Sedum and Sempervivum.

Zerynthia polyxena/cassandra the species is most common in open habitats, such as clearings and forest edges, slopes and meadows. In Italy, it can be found from sea level up to 1000m a.s.l. Adults are active mainly in April and May. The caterpillars feed on plants of the genus Aristolochia.

Saga pedo this species is typical for warm, dry and open environments. Adults can be found from June to the beginning of autumn. Females produce eggs which do not require fertilisation for their development (parthenogenesis).

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Lucanidae

Genus: Lucanus

Systematic and distribution

In Europe, 5 species belonging to Lucanus genus are present: Lucanus cervus, L. barbarossa, L. tetraodon, L. ibericus and L. pontbrianti. In Italy, L. cervus occurs in the northern and central regions (Latium and Marche represent the southern limits), whereas in the south and in part of the centre, L. tetraodon is present (recently also recorded in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Liguria). In particular, there is a well-documented area where both species overlap in central Italy. Here the two species may coexist (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Italian distribution of Lucanus cervus (red dots) and L. tetraodon (grey dots and squares); sites with the presence of both species are indicated with blue dots (Bartolozzi and Maggini 2007, modified).

Identification

Lucanus cervus is the largest European beetle: males are 30-89 mm long and females are 25-49 mm long. The colour varies from reddish-brown to very dark brown, almost black. The species exhibits a strong sexual dimorphism: the male has large mandibles, longer than the head; the female has much shorter mandibles, shorter than the head. The number of antennal segments and the position of the largest inner tooth of the mandible, allow L. cervus to be distinguished from L. tetraodon (see identification chart). In areas where the species overlap, individuals may exhibit intermediate morphological characters, making identification difficult.

Ecology

The main habitat of L. cervus are mature deciduous forests, characterised by deadwood in contact with the ground, from sea level to 1000 m a.s.l. Females lay eggs deep in the ground, close to decaying deadwood (suitable for larval development). Each female produces up to 100 eggs (which can be laid in more than one site). The larvae develop in 3-5 years and, for metamorphosis, move from the deadwood into the ground and form a cocoon (in autumn). The adults, which live only for a few weeks, emerge in spring and are active from May to August/September (this period is shorter at higher altitudes). The species shows peak-activity between June and July. In this period, it is easy to observe males flying at dusk in their search for females (which usually stay on ground).

Figure 2.

Examples of habitats with deadwood suitable for ovideposition (white arrows) (Photo M. Bardiani, A. Campanaro, M. Bardiani).

The method is based on the sightings of stag beetle adults by an operator who walks slowly (at constant speed) along a standard transect (500 m) around sunset. The protocol: i) locate suitable transect (mainly straight), such as forest tracks without or poor canopy closure (Figure 3), where to carry out the transect walks (from 1 to 4 paths per study area, spaced at least 200 m apart); ii) mark the start-point, the end and each intermediate 100 metres of the transect with red and white barricade tape or with number plates; register coordinates of start and end points of the transect with a GPS; iii) plan the monitoring period and the number of sessions (Table 1); iv) at each session, an operator starts the transect walk 15 minutes before sunset (sunset time should be recorded for each session) and finishes 15 minutes after sunset (500 m in 30 minutes; each 100 m in 6 minutes); v) the operator notes on the field-sheet each Lucanus cervus sighting (male, female, undetected sex, in flight, walking) using the code reported on the field-sheet; vi) the number of individuals sighted per session and transect should be inserted into a spreadsheet; vii) in case of strong wind or heavy rain, the monitoring session should be moved within the week or cancelled; viii) after the last session, a mean value of sightings for the year (number of individuals per transect and per session) should be calculated.

Figure 3.

Examples of canopy openness above the transect (Photo M. Bardiani and I. Toni).

Table 1.Download as CSV 

Monitoring protocol of Lucanus cervus.

Method	Sightings along transect at dusk
Number of transects	from 1 to 4
Distance between transects	at least 200 m
Length of transect	500 m
Transect subdivision	100 m
Monitoring period	June-July
Survey frequency (for each transect)	Once a week
Number of repeats for areas up to 400 m a.s.l. (survey week of the year suggested)	6 (23rd – 28th)
Number of repeats for areas above 400 m a.s.l. (survey week of the year suggested)	5 (26th – 30th)
Survey-time of the day	Dusk
Survey duration	30’ (from 15’ before to 15’ after sunset time)
Number of operators	1 per transect
Equipment for setting up transects	measuring tape, barrier tape (or numbered plates), GPS
Survey equipment	a clipboard, a field-sheet, a head torch, a pencil, a clock, thermohygrometer

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Scarabaeidae

Genus: Osmoderma

Systematic and distribution

There are at least 4 species of hermit beetle in Europe: O. eremita and O. cristinae, distributed in western Europe and O. barnabita and O. lassallei present in eastern Europe. In Italy (Figure 1), O. eremita is present in northern and central Italy, whereas O. cristinae is endemic to Sicily. In southern Italy (from Campania to Calabria), there are also sparse populations of the sub-species O. eremita italicum.

Figure 1.

Distribution in Italy of Osmoderma e. eremita (red dots), O. e. italicum (blue dots) and O. cristinae (grey dots). (Brandmayr et al. 2007, modified).

Identification

O. eremita is a mid-sized (25–40 mm) beetle of bronze or black colour with metallic reflexes. The males have a median longitudinal groove on the pronotum more pronounced than in the females (Figure 2). Although a specialist entomologist is needed to distinguish the three taxa present in Italy morphologically, their particular geographical distribution makes the determination of species or sub-species rather easy.

Figure 2.

Habitus of O. eremita male and female (Photo A. Ballerio).

Ecology

Osmoderma eremita is an obligate saproxylic beetle, strictly dependent on the presence of dead wood in mature hollow trees (Figure 3). The larvae mainly develop in oaks, but also in chestnuts, limes, willows, beech and fruit trees. The females oviposit from 20 to 80 eggs in the hollows of trunks of moribund trees, in which the larvae (Figure 4) live from 2 to 4 years, digging into the wood mould in the tree cavity. At the end of the life cycle, larvae (about 75 mm long) build an oval cocoon formed from their excrement and fragments of wood. During the summer months (early July to early August), adults emerge and are active for about 20-30 days (males) or at most 90 days (females), flying no more than a few hundred metres (100-250 m) in the surrounding area. Adult males emit a pheromone, attractive for females, that has a distinctive and intense smell, similar to fermented fruit (such as peach or apricot).

Figure 3.

O. eremita larva habitus (Photo S. Dourlot).

Figure 4.

Typical habitat consisting of a senescent hollow tree (Photo E. Maurizi).

One week before monitoring, attach the Black Cross Window Traps (BCWT) to tree branches (about 2.0-2.5 m high), map and number these with a GPS (Figure 5, Table 1). Activate the traps the day before the start of the monitoring, removing the lid from the collector and inserting into the panel a tube containing a cotton roll immersed in 1.2 ml of pheromone. Check the traps every two days and change the pheromone tubes once a week. At the beginning and at the end of each check, note date, time and weather conditions on the field-sheet (Table 2). During the check, count and photograph the captured individuals in each trap - distinguishing males from females - and note the data on the field-sheet. Immediately, release the individuals on the tree and go to the next BCWT. At the end of the monitoring season, deactivate the traps by closing the collectors with their lids and by removing the pheromone tubes.

Figure 5.

Pheromone Trap (BCWT) for collection of O. eremita. A. Trap equipped with a tube containing pheromone, B. Positioning on a branch of a tree, C. Inserting the funnel into the collector, D. a hermit beetle caught at the bottom of the collector (Photo by E. Capogna A-B, F. Bernardini C-D).

Material for building one BCWT: 2 black panels (25 x 350 cm), 1 plastic funnel (Ø 30 cm), 1 collector made of a plastic container with a screw cap (vol. 500 ml), 1 hook made from iron wire, 1 small iron wire hook to secure the tube on a panel; Commitment: 2 days, 2 operators, 24 hours per person; Construction period: winter and / or spring months before monitoring.

Download as CSV 

Table 1. Monitoring protocol of Osmoderma eremita.

Method	pheromone trap (or Black Cross Window Trap)*
Number of traps	30 BCTW for each site
Placement of traps	random or along transect or in a grid (500 x 500 m)
Distance between traps	100 m
Monitoring period	July - September
Number of surveys	23
Frequency of surveys	every two days
Time of the day	09:00-18:00
Number of operators	2
Hours per person	24
Equipment	GPS, clip-bord, field-sheet, pencil, clock, plastic Eppendorf vials with pheromone, cotton dental rolls, tweezers, camera, pole with a hook (e.g. clothes hanger as reacher)

Family: Cerambycidae

Genus: Cerambyx

Systematic and Distribution

In Europe there are at least seven species of the genus Cerambyx; five are present in Italy: C. cerdo, C. miles, C. scopolii, C. welensii and C. nodulosus. Cerambyx cerdo is present in most of Europe and in Italy is known from all regions, with the only exception of Valle d'Aosta (Figure 1). In many parts of Italy C. cerdo occurs together with its sister-species C. welensii.

Figure 1.

Distribution map of Cerambyx cerdo for Italy (Sama 2007).

Identification

Adults of C. cerdo are between 17–56 mm long (without antennae). The body is black, while the tip of the elytra is brown-red. In males the antennae much exceed the length of the body and this allows to tell them from females. Cerambyx cerdo is easily distinguished from most other species of the genus Cerambyx, which do not possess a tooth at the tip of the elytra; the only exception is C. welensii (see identification table).

Ecology

Cerambyx cerdo is typical for old oak-forests, from the plains to hill-country. The species mainly colonises large, old oaks exposed to the sun in rural and urban environments (e.g. parks, tree-lined avenues). In addition to oaks, the species can also develop in other deciduous tree species. The main factors that render a tree suitable for colonisation by C. cerdo are: reduced vitality, large diameter of the trunk (greater than 50 cm) with thick bark and exposure to direct sunlight. The larvae (Figure 2) are xylophagous and develop in 3-4 years in the wood of the trunk or in large branches. The adults emerge (Figure 3) in spring-summer, can live for up to two months and feed on sap oozing from trees and on ripe fruit. Adults are active mainly during the night and can be observed from May to August.

Figure 2.

Larva of Cerambyx cerdo, photographed inside a gallery (Photo A. Mazzei).

Figure 3.

Exit holes created by Cerambyx cerdo (Photo L. Redolfi De Zan).

The baited traps used for C. cerdo consist of two jars; the upper one is the capture chamber and the lower jar contains the liquid bait. The material required for building a trap consists of: two HDPE plastic jars (1000 cm³ each) with screw caps, a 10 cm diameter funnel and a metal mesh (mesh size 2x2 mm). Holes with a diameter of 76 mm need to be cut in the screw caps and in the bottom of the upper jar. Traps are assembled by attaching a perforated cap with 4 screws to the perforated bottom of the capture chamber. The metal mesh needs to be inserted between the two pieces, which prevents the captured individuals falling into the liquid bait. The tip of the funnel is cut, creating a bottom hole with a diameter of 4 cm. This funnel is attached to the second perforated cap and then screwed on to the capture chamber. The bait mixture consists of 50% red wine and 50% white wine, with the addition of 220 g of sugar, for a final volume of 500 cm³. The mixture should be prepared one week before the trap is activated in order to obtain a liquid with an appropriate degree of fermentation and to allow the sugar to dissolve completely. Traps are arranged in pairs on oaks (Figure 4). Monitoring is carried out by checking the traps (between 08:00 and 11:00) three times a week for a total of five weeks. Traps are activated on Monday and are checked in three consecutive mornings (i.e. until Thursday). The number of captured adults is registered on the field-sheets provided. Each week, after having checked the traps for the third time, these are temporarily deactivated, by closing the jar with a lid and removing the one modified with the funnel (Table 1).

Table 1.Download as CSV 

Monitoring protocol of Cerambyx cerdo

Method	Baited trap
Number of baited traps	20 traps for each site
Number of trees	10 (along forest roads or pathway)
Position on tree	One trap on the trunk (1.5–2 m high); the other on branches (over 10 m high)
Distance between trees with baited trap	At least 100 m
Monitoring period	June-July
Number of weeks	5
Number of surveys	15
Frequency of surveys	Three per week
Time of the day	08:00h - 11:00h
Number of operators	2
Hours per person	40
Equipment	A clipboard, a field-sheet, a pencil, GPS, a rope, two replacement jars, bottles with mixture (wine-sugar)

Figure 4.

Positioning of a pair of traps, at the two heights specified A. over a branch higher than 10 m; B. at the trunk at 1.5 - 2 m; C. details of the modified lid with funnel and the modified capture chamber (Photo M. Bardiani).

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Cerambycidae

Genus: Rosalia

Systematic and Distribution

Rosalia alpina is the only European representative of the genus Rosalia. The species occurs in the mountainous regions of central and southern Europe and in the north up to southern Sweden. The species is also present in Turkey, Syria and in the Caucasus region, although it is absent from Great Britain and Holland. In Italy, R. alpina is distributed in the Alps and Apennines, throughout the mainland and in Sicily, always with localised populations (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Distribution of R. alpina in Italy (Sama 2007).

Identification

Adults of Rosalia alpina are beautiful and unmistakable for their ash-blue background colour, with black spots on the prothorax and elytra (Figure 2); antennae are long with tufts of blue hairs towards the apex of each segment. The length of adults varies from 15 to 38 mm.

Figure 2.

Adult of R. alpina (Photo P. Buonpane).

Ecology

The species reproduces exclusively in dead or dying trees and in dead parts of healthy trees and stumps (Figure 3). Rosalia alpina is characteristic in mature and thermophilic beech forests, from the mountainous belt to the alpine region (between 500 and 1500 m a.s.l.) on south and south-west facing slopes. The species is also present in mesophilic mixed forests, without a dominance of beech which may even be absent. In these cases, the dominant tree is Acer pseudoplatanus, although Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia platyphyllos and T. cordata may also be present. In Central Europe, the xylophagous larvae normally develop in beech wood (Fagus sylvatica), though less frequently in other tree species. However, in southern Europe, they can also develop in the wood of other tree species such as white willow (Salix alba), common hazel (Corylus avellana), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata), common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and, in one case, a larva was observed in a dying oak tree. Relatively little is known about ecological preferences of R. alpina in the southernmost areas of its distribution.

Figure 3.

Example of habitat of R. alpina (Photo S. Rossi De Gasperis).

Monitoring consists of searching and counting individuals of Rosalia alpina on selected trees. A total of 15 trees must be chosen, these being dead or partially dead and their trunks must have a minimum diameter of 30 cm (measured at breast height). These trees need to be exposed to direct sunlight, at least during the central hours of the day and must be easily accessible by the operators. The selected trees should be relatively close to each other, best if connected by a single path. It is advisable to search the entire forest for suitable trees before defining those to be monitored. The selected trees must be checked once a week, during the period of peak activity of R. alpina, exclusively in days with no rain and with an average daily temperature above 20° C. In case of bad weather, the fieldwork should be postponed to another day of the week. The interval between successive monitoring sessions should be 5–9 days. The searches are carried out by two operators simultaneously, examining the surface of the trunks for about 1-2 minutes (large diameter trees require relatively longer time). It is important that the operators communicate with each other to avoid double counting some individuals. They also need to check large cracks and cavities for adults. The upper part of the trunk should be searched with binoculars. All sighted individuals are to be reported on the appropriate field-sheets (Section 3).

Figure 4.

Example of a tree to be monitored (Photo Archivio MIPP).

Table 1.Download as CSV 

Monitoring protocol of Rosalia alpina

Method	Searching wild trees (dead or partially dead)
Number of trees	15 for each site to be monitored
Position of trees	Along transects
Distance between trees	50 m - 300 m
Monitoring period	July-August
Number repeats	5
Frequency of surveys	Once per week
Time of the day	11:00 - 15:00
Number of operators	2
Hours per person	10
Equipment	A clipboard, a field-sheet, a pencil, a clock, binoculars and GPS

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Cerambycidae

Genus: Morimus

Systematic and Distribution

The taxonomy of the genus Morimus is complex and unresolved. Until some years ago, the European populations of this genus were divided into five species; and only M. funereus is listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Today, several authors consider M. asper and M. funereus as subspecies of M. asper. In Italy, M. asper is present in all regions, including the major islands (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Distribution map of Morimus asper in Italy (Sama 2007).

Identification

Adults of M. asper measure 15-40 mm and have an elongated-oval body. The elytra are fused, with a grainy look and are typically dark grey or opaque black. Each elytron bears two black spots but these can be hardly visible in individuals with a dark background colour. This background colour differs amongst the various taxa throughout the species range (e.g. M. a. asper: dark, almost black; M. a. funereus: light grey with obvious spots). A conspicuous sexual dimorphism exists in the antennal length of M. asper, as in many other longhorn beetles. Male antennae exceed the length of the body, female antennae are at most as long as the body.

Figure 2.

Sexual dimorphism in Morimus asper (Photo by Federico Romiti).

Ecology

Morimus asper is a silvicolous, xylophagous and saproxylic species, which live in old-growth deciduous and mixed forests (mainly beech and oaks) with a medium-high density of dead wood (e.g. standing dead trees, stumps, trunks on the ground but also wood piles and logs with a diameter greater than 13 cm; Figures 3 and 4). M. asper lives over a wide altitudinal range in Italy: 0–1800 m a.s.l. Females lay more than 100 eggs in dead wood and the larvae develop in 3-5 years. Larvae of the last stage create pupal cells in the wood, up to 8 cm in length. The pupa matures in just over 20 days. The fresh adult remains inside the pupal cell for another 14-20 days, prior to emergence, producing a circular exit hole of 8-12 mm in diameter. In Italy, adults are active from late March to mid-July in the lowlands. In the mountains, activity lasts from mid-May to early August. Adults are most active in the evening/night. Males and females of M. asper are able to overwinter and can survive for more than a year (life-span can exceed 400 days in the wild). Adults are flightless and have a very limited dispersal capacity: generally, less than 100 m and rarely, more than a few hundred metres (up to 450 m).

Figure 3.

The typical habitat of Morimus asper: trunks and stumps of recently fallen trees in an old-growth forest (Photo M. Bardiani).

Figure 4.

An individual of Morimus asper funereus on freshly cut trunks (Photo S. Hardersen).

Seven wood piles (with a volume of 0.3 m³) must be used, made from trees (trunks or branches) which had recently fallen or from freshly cut trees (Table 1). The individual logs should be positioned in 2-4 layers, have a diameter between 13-45 cm and a standard length of 60 cm (Figure 5). The protocol: i) use the dominant native hardwood timber present in the study area (if present: beech, oak or hornbeam); ii) arrange 7 wood piles along linear transects with a distance of 100 m between them; iii) take note of date, time, temperature and name of operators at the beginning and the end of each check, (Section 3); iv) two operators simultaneously searching for M. asper by sight on the surface of the wood pile, amongst the logs and at the base of the pile (using a torch); v) the operators switching sides and thus each operator checking the entire wood pile again; vi) count individuals collected, specifying the number of males and females on the field-sheet (Section 3); vii) release individuals on the same log pile; viii) check wood piles after 20:00, once a week, for five weeks, beginning when M. asper starts being active (April - May).

Table 1.Download as CSV 

Monitoring protocol of M. asper

Method	Freshly cut log piles
Number of log piles	7 for each site to be monitored
Placement of log piles	Along transects
Distance between log piles	100 m
Monitoring period	April-July
Number repeats	5
Frequency of surveys	Once per week
Time of the day	20:00-24:00
Number of operators	2
Hours per person	5
Equipment	A clipboard, a field-sheet, a head torch, a pencil, a clock, holding box for beetles, two kneepads

Figure 5.

A wood pile, built from freshly cut beech, used for monitoring Morimus asper (Photo S. Hardersen).

Figure 6.

Two operators simultaneously searching for Morimus asper (Photo M. Maura).