Dorcus parallelopipedus (LINNAEUS,1758)

Biology, ecology Larvae growth approx. three years in rotten wood of broad-leaved trees such as oak (Quercus spp.), lime (Tilia spp.), ulm (Ulmus spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), rare on fruit trees. Larvae develop in trunk, branches and roots. Imago occurs in deciduous forests from May until August. The imago is active by day and in the twilight. This species is not a pest of wood used for technical purposes.

Typical biotope of this species in Latvia - Fig. 6.

Fig. 6. Dorcus parallelopipedus is common species in old forests at Sigulda and Turaida (Gauja National Park, Central)

Distribution in the region: Germany, Denmark, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Sweden.

Protection: Protected in Latvia (2^nd category - vulnerable), Sweden (2^nd category - vulnerable).

Threat factors: Decline in decaying and hollow trees; destruction of old forest biotopes.

Platycerus caprea (DE GEER, 1774)

Biology, ecology: Larvae develop approx. one season in the rotten wood of oaks (Quercus spp.), birks (Betula spp.), beeches (Fagus spp.), limes (Tilia spp.). Larvae develop in trunks and branches. Imago occurs in mixed and deciduous forests from April until September.The imago is active by day and in the twilight. This species is not a pest of wood used for technical purposes.

Distribution in the region: Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Karelia Region (NW Russia), Finland, Sweden, Norway.

Protection: not hitherto threatened.

Platycerus caraboides (LINNAEUS, 1758)

Biology, ecology: Larvae growth approx. two or three years in rotten wood of pine (Pinus spp.) and deciduous trees. Larvae develop in trunks and branches. Imago is common in mixed, coniferous and deciduous forests; the second generation may be found in October of the same year. The imago is active by day and in the twilight. This species is not a pest of wood used for technical purposes.

Typical biotope of this species in Latvia - Fig. 7.

Fig. 7. Typical biotope of Platycerus caraboides near Ilgas (SE-Latvia) (Photo: Telnov, V.1996).

Distribution in the region: Germany, Denmark, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Karelia Region (NW Russia), Finland, Sweden, Norway.

Protection: not hitherto threatened.

Platycerus caraboides (LINNAEUS, 1758) forma rufipes (HERBST, 1790)

This form differs from the nominal form in that it has red legs.

Ceruchus chrysomelinus (HOCHENWARTH, 1785)

Biology, ecology: Larvae growth two-three years between rotten wood and xylem in fir trees (Picea spp.), rare in pines (Pinus spp.), birks (Betula spp.), beeches (Fagus spp.). Larvae develop in trunks only. Imago occurs in mixed and deciduous forests from April until August. Imago is day's activ. This species is not a pest of wood used for technical purposes.

Typical biotope of this species in Latvia - Fig. 8.

Fig. 8. Ceruchus chrysomelinus is widely distributed in primary forests of the Slitere State Reserve (NW-Latvia) (Photo: Telnov, VI.1995).

Distribution in the region: Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Karelia Region (NW Russia), Finland, Sweden, Norway.

Protection: Protected in Germany (2^nd category - vulnerable), Poland (3^rd category - rare), Latvia (1^st category - endangered), Lithuania (1^st category - endangered), Belarus (3^rd category - rare), Sweden (1^st category - endangered), Norway (1^st category - endangered).

Threat factors: Decline in decaying and hollow trees; destruction of old forest biotopes.

Subfamilia Aesalinae MACLEAY,1819

Aesalus scarabaeoides (Panzer,1794)

Biology, ecology: Larvae develop for approx. three years in rotten wood of oaks (Quercus spp.) and beeches (Fagus spp.), rare in other deciduous trees. Larva develops in trunk and roots. Imago is active by night. This species is not a pest of wood used for technical purposes.

Typical biotope of this species in Germany - Fig. 5.

Distribution in the region: Germany, Poland, Sweden (northern border of distribution area).

Protection: Protected in Germany (1^st category - endangered), Sweden (2^nd category - vulnerable).

Threat factors: Changes in the proportion of different tree species; decline in decaying and hollow trees; destruction of old forest biotopes.

I am grateful to Dr. Oleg R. ALEXANDROVITCH (Minsk University, Belarus), Dr. Jerzy M. GUTOWSKI (Institute of Natural Forests, Bialowieza, Poland), Dr. Ole MARTIN (Zoological Museum Copenhagen, Denmark), Dr. Oddvar HANSSEN (Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway), Dr. Matthias HARTMANN (Erfurt Museum of Natural History, Germany), Dr. Hans H. SILFVERBERG (Zoological Museum, Helsinki, Finland), Dr. Mikael SOERENSSON (University of Lund, Sweden), Dr. Toomas TAMMARU (Institute of Zoology & Botany of the Tartu University, Estonia), Dr. Vytautas TAMUTIS (Institute of Agriculture, Kaunas, Lithuania) for valuable advice. My sincere thanks to Mr. Bob WALKDEN (Tideswell, United Kingdom) for his help in preparation of the final version of my manuscript.

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