Habitats-directive
Guides
Graphoderus
Graphoderus is a genus of predaceous diving beetles in the family Dytiscidae, comprising 12 extant species and 2 extinct species known from fossils. The genus is native to the Holarctic region, with species distributed across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Several species are of conservation concern, particularly G. bilineatus, which is listed in Annexes II and IV of the European Habitats Directive and has experienced significant population declines across its range.
Osmoderma
Typical Hermit Beetles, Hermit Beetles
Osmoderma is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Cetoniinae, commonly known as hermit beetles. The genus has a Holarctic distribution, with species found across Europe, parts of Asia, and North America. Several European species, particularly O. eremita and O. barnabita, are of significant conservation concern due to habitat loss and are protected under the EU Habitats Directive. The genus is characterized by its dependence on tree hollows for larval development, making it highly vulnerable to forest management practices that remove dead wood and veteran trees.
saproxylicconservationHabitats-Directivetree-hollowsveteran-treesindicator-speciesumbrella-specieswood-mouldCetoniinaeScarabaeidaeHolarcticEuropeNorth-Americathreatened-speciesdead-woodforest-managementcitizen-sciencedetection-dogsex-situ-breedingpollardingtraditional-agricultural-landscapesmetapopulationhabitat-fragmentationold-growth-forestbroad-leaved-treesoaklimewillowbeechorchardshedgerowsurban-parkspheromone-monitoringradio-trackingphoretic-mitesScopoli-1763Le-Peletier-&-Serville-1828O.-eremitaO.-barnabitaO.-eremicolahermit-beetlePacifastacus leniusculus
Signal Crayfish
The signal crayfish is a large North American freshwater crayfish introduced to Europe in the 1960s to replace declining native fisheries. It has become one of the most ecologically impactful invasive decapods in Europe, outcompeting native crayfish and serving as a carrier of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci). The species establishes self-sustaining populations rapidly, with six age cohorts documented within a few years of introduction. It shows sex- and size-specific coloration patterns, with males displaying more saturated and brighter ventral claw surfaces than females, suggesting a role in intraspecific communication.
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Wrinkled Bark Beetles
Rhysodidae is a family of saproxylic beetles comprising over 350 species in approximately 20 genera, predominantly distributed in tropical forests worldwide. The family contains three European species: Rhysodes sulcatus (Wrinkled Bark Beetle), Clinidium canaliculatum, and Omoglymmius germari. Members are obligate saproxylic beetles dependent on deadwood habitats, with most species being flightless, poorly mobile, and exhibiting cryptic habits. Rhysodes sulcatus is listed as Endangered in the EU-27 and serves as an umbrella species and bioindicator for ancient forest remnants.
Rosalia
Rosalia longicorn, Alpine longhorn beetle
Rosalia is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) established by Audinet-Serville in 1833. The genus includes the iconic Rosalia alpina, known as the Rosalia longicorn or Alpine longhorn beetle, a large and strikingly colored species protected under the European Union Habitats Directive. Members of this genus are associated with beech forests and have experienced significant range contractions across Europe due to habitat loss and forest management practices. The genus is characterized by elongated bodies, long antennae, and often distinctive coloration including blue-gray tones with black spots.