07_Presentation of Draft Monitoring Scheme for the Great Capricorn Beetle and the Stag Beetle

EU IPA: 2009 ~ NATURA 2000 Management and Monitoring

Monitoring scheme forStag Beetle (Lucanus cervus) and Great

Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo)

Photo

Lucija Šerić Jelaska & Jan Dušek


GROUP OF SPECIES

Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) and Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus)

Saproxylic beetles - depend on the process of fungal decay of wood during their larval stage

Both species are listed in Annex II and the Great Capricorn Beetle also in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive.

Ecology & biology

Adults of both species are active only during a short flight period from May to August (mainly in June and July). They attack mostly older living trees (the Great Capricorn Beetle) and rotting logs and stumps (the Stag Beetle). Beetles have evening and night-time activity. They are usually staying in hiding places and in the treetops during the day.


Photo by Maria Fremlin

Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus)

•distributed widely across Europe•IUCN status of NT in 2010 across Europe•Appendix III of Bern Convention

Harvey et al 2011. Insect conservation and diversity



• adult lives up to two months• larvae develop during several years within decaying wood• long period of larval development makes this species potentially vulnerableto forestry practices (as the removal of fallen, dead trees etc).

Photo by Hrašovec 2009, SINP



Adults are active between the second half of March and the end of September when they can be observed flying in the evening (VREZEC et al. 2012)

�the peak of seasonal activity between the end of June and mid-July for Slovenia (Vrezec et al. 2012)




Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo)

•distributed widely across Europe The seasonal activity period of Cerambyx cerdo

• between the end of May until the end of August (VREZEC 2008)

Peak of the activity (example from Slovenia)

• 6 Jun–15 Jul (VREZEC 2008)

•Crepuscular or nocturnal adults•Size range 2.5 – 5.5 cm

•C. carinatus•C. velutinus (C. welensii)•C. scopoli•C. miles•C. nodulosus

From Bense 1995


http://revuyon.lacoctelera.net/post/2008/06/10/el-cerdo-y-encina-caso-del-cerambyx-cerdo

Smooth glabrous furrows on the hind tarsus under-side

Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo)

http://www.zin.ru/animalia/coleoptera/rus/doychev4.htm


Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) and Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus)

For Cerambix - predominantly in oak treesQuercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, Q. cerris, Q. ilex (Hrašovec 2009, SINP)But could be developed in other broadleaf trees like Juglans and Ceratonia (Bense 1995)

For Lucanus 50% records from the genus Quercus, (19% in UK) in Harvey et al 2011.

Larval host association across EU (excluding the UK)





Current surveillance

There has not been any systematic surveillance for the Great Capricorn Beetle or the Stag Beetle in Croatia.

GROUP OF SPECIES


EXISTING DATA

Data on Lucanus cervus distribution - summarized in Harvey et al. 2011.

�Museum colections (NHM Zagreb, NHM Split, NHM Rijeka, Hungarian Natural History Museum (Otto Merkl), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Alain Drumond and Arno Thomaes)�Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Science, Zagreb�Literature data (Novak 1952, Depoli 1926, etc.)�Latests observations by biologists and foresters (Al Vrezec personal data, Lucija Šerić Jelaska personal data, Božo Kokan personal data, NGO data (BIUS & BIOM), etc.)

Institute of Forestry (db)-Croatian Forests (FA)�Tree pest species database with no data on stag beetle and great capricorn


DISTRIBUTION

Both species occur in deciduous forest types (oak forests, etc.) and larger forest urban parks, they are sharing most of the habitats.

Great capricorn beetleHrašovec 2009, SINP


DISTRIBUTION

Stag beetle

Harvey et al 2011.

Insect Conservation and Diversity

� post 1970

� pre 1970


SCHEME OF SURVEILLANCE

Range

In all three biogeographical regions in Croatia

Mainly in Quercus woodlands

Way of surveillance

�mapping & research on localities

�Field data collection (systematic mapping of suitable habitats + records from localities with research activities), collection of existing data (literature, museum collections etc.), collection of records via special web pages



(Vrezec et al. 2012)

Broad citizen collecting programme scheme (example from Slovenia)

�supplement to the database for the distribution monitoring

�especially males of Lucanus cervus are easily recognizable even for amateur observers, (VREZEC er al 2012, MENDEZ 2003, NAPIER 2003, HARVEY et al. 2011).

�“empty” sites should be surveyed using methods with known efficiencies. “

In Slovenia


�Stag beetle project in Spain:Collection of records via special web pagesMain aims: distribution map and long term monitoring


Lucanus cervus - evening transects implemented in the distribution monitoring scheme due to its high detection efficiency (example from Slovenia, Vrazec et al 2012.).


In the case of Cerambix cerdo, tree pitfall traps, night survey of trunks, evening transects are suggested



The extension of evening transect�the road transect survey of dead specimens as road kill

�survey of prey remains of different predators

EVENING TRANSECTS survey throughout the flight season

(adjusted by WORKING GROUP ON IBERIAN LUCANIDAE 2005, M. MENDEZ, KAPLA, VREZEC 2007, HARVEY ET AL 2011, etc.)

�set along forest roads inside forest or at forest edge�in the evening between 20.30h and 21.30h in June and July by one person withcontinuous slow walk (at an approximate speed of 2 m/10s) in dry warm evenings�beetles, flying or on the ground, should be observed

The abundance index - number of beetles counted per 100-1000 meters oftransect


TRAPPING with baits

�fruit�wine-rum-sugar mixture�ginger�pheromones�etc.

Photo by BIOM 2011 Adjusted in Harvey et al 2011

The abundance index - number of individuals caught per 1-10 trap nights


Night survey of trunks

�originally proposed for survey of Cerambyx cerdo adults, which are nocturnal (SCHAFFRATH 2003)�to count beetles that are aggregating on trunk for breeding during night-time�to survey life standing Quercus tree trunks immediately after dusk(i.e. beginning at 21.30h) in June in warm and dry nights�using electric torch

The abundance index - number of individuals found per 1-10 surveyed trunks


Photo by Hrašovec 2009 SINP

�Applied in Germany. �but not in large forest stands we have, �we have similar species, with which we can confuse Cerambyx cerdo holes, e.g. Aegosoma scabricorne and other large Cerambyx species.�empty holes could overestimate population size

Counting infected trees and holes

Cerambix larvae holes



Population

monitoring on transects (N ind per 100 m transect)

& scientific research

Abundance measurements in the field, morphometry and sex ratio research (using traps), data analyses

�several survey methods should be used

�for the exact evaluation of species population, there are problems due to species seasonal activity, weather conditions since the threshold for flight is between 11 and18°C (HARVEY et al. 2011), and other sampling biases such as sex ratio and sampling efficiency. (from Vrazec et al 2012)



Habitat for the species

Special separate mapping activities oriented to the quality of forest habitats(forest community, host tree, type of management, age of the stand, number of dead and dying trees, type of the soil like alluvial etc.)

This species shows preference for decaying timber subterraneanhabitats up to 50cm underground, especially tree stumps, (mainly but not exclusively of broadleaved timber for stag beetle) and mature oak and braodleved stands for great capricorn beetle.


All monitoring of adult beetles has to be done between ca. 20 days (in the peak of adults activities).

�survey from 1st half of June, to mid of July, on selected sites (i.e. 5 sites).�when the species is detected (this is usually also peak of activity) the survey can be done also on all other points during next 10 days

Data on other species will be collected also during the surveillance (e.g. Rosalia alpina), sharing these information between monitoring programmes will be assured.



LOGISTICS

Monitoring of these species represents a part of activities of “Beetles Working Group”

“Beetles Working Group” is led and coordinated by SINP staff

SINP coordinator has following tasks:•to nominate members of the Working Group;•to prepare (in time) agreements for all paid contractors;•to prepare agreements with cooperating institutions;•to organize all works and meetings;•to assure input of data into database.


Roles of participants:

Kind of work/Specialization needed:

Preparation of methodologies/Entomologists with experiences in surveillance of species

Expert examination/Entomologists with specializations on saproxylicbeetles

Expert coordination (membership in WG)/Entomologists with specializations on beetles

Communication with IT experts/Biologists with knowledge of entomology and IT

Regional coordination of the field work/Well educated staff

Field work/For species mapping only trained staff (like students or foresters) can be invited


PILOT PROJECT

�Testing sampling efficiency

Evening transect method, trapping method using different baits & trunk survey

�Phenology of insects in all three biogeographical regions

Survey from 01.05. to 15.09. for 3 years

�To get knowledge on local population sizes and then select correct sample of monitoring points that reliably reflect situation in Croatian population

The pilot project is needed since forest habitats are dominant in Croatia. It is good to check monitoring efficiency on a small area and then to extend those methods into the whole country.


MAPPING Information on distribution, according to grids ETRS (European Terrestrial Reference

System)


For example: •ca 687 10km squares in oak woodlands for 6 years period= cca114.5 squares per year

•Land (incl. islands) 827 squares (827squares/6years/3regions=45.9 squares per region per year);

•Forest + forest-shrubs=795 sq

• Only squares with woodlands up to 600-700 m asl

MAPPING Information on distribution, according to grids ETRS (European Terrestrial Reference

System)


•Forest + forest-shrubs up to 600 m asl


•squares with all forests + shrubs in the middle of basic unit up to 600 m asl


•135 squares with oak woodland in the middle of basic unit


FUNDING

costs per 6 year period trend in following periods

Preparation of methodologies & examination 5.000 Kn (ManMon secure it for the Stag Beetle)

Theoretical coordination (Working Group) 5.000 Kn ± stable

Coordination of the field work 15.000 Kn ± stable

Pilot project 15.000 Kn decrease to 0

Collection of existing data 15.000 Kn decrease

Mapping of the species 45.000 Kn ± stable

Mapping of the habitat 15.000 Kn decrease

Research on localities 0 Kn (only in relation with site based programmes)

Monitoring on plots 90.000 Kn ± stable

Scientific research 0 Kn (project financing, ca. 45.000 Kn)

TOTAL (mandatory costs) 205.000 Kn

07_Presentation of Draft Monitoring Scheme for the Great Capricorn Beetle and the Stag Beetle

Documents

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