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Coleoptera, Bostrichidae, Stephanopachys linearis, new record, Poland, Augustów Forest

The paper presents the first records in Poland of Agrilus hastulifer (Ratzeburg, 1837) (Buprestidae). It is the 31st species of the genus Agrilus Curtis, 1825 recorded in the country. It was found in two locations in eastern (Białowieża Primeval Forest) and central Poland (Kampinos National Park). All data of the biology and economic significance of this species, based on the literature and our observations, are summarized. Due to the great difficulty in distinguishing this species from Agrilus graminis Kiesenwetter, 1857, we also provide an original, richly illustrated comparison useful for discriminating the two species.

Recent progress in the taxonomy of flat bark beetles (Cucujidae), specifically, in the genus Cucujus, has revealed great diversity in subtropical Asia, but the seemingly well-known temperate and boreal taxa need further attention because of their conservation status. Here, we used an integrative approach using morphology, DNA, and species distribution modelling to disentangle phylogenetic relations, verify the number of species, and understand the historical biogeography of Palearctic and Nearctic Cucujus beetles, particularly the C. haematodes species group. Species distinctiveness was supported for C. cinnaberinus, but present-day C. haematodes turned out to be a species complex made up of separate lineages in the western, middle and eastern parts of its Palearctic range. Cucujus muelleri was a member of that complex, being sister to Asian C. haematodes. Moreover, C. haematodes caucasicus was found to be phylogenetically closely related to Italian C. tulliae, and both to be sister to European C. haematodes. North American C. clavipes clavipes and C. c. puniceus resulted to be enough divergent to be considered different species. Interestingly, western American C. puniceus turned out to be closely related to the C. haematodes complex, whereas eastern American C. clavipes constituted a separate lineage, being distantly related to both C. puniceus and C. cinnaberinus. These patterns suggest former trans-continental connections among the ancestors of extant flat bark beetle species. Moreover, a divergent lineage of C. cinnaberinus was found in Calabria, which should be regarded at the very least as a subspecies. The ancestor of C. hameatodes group originated in mid-Miocene, and next, ca. 6.2 Mya, a line leading to C. cinnaberinus had split. Speciation of the American lineages occurred during Pliocene (4.4 Mya for C. clavipes and 3.3 Mya for C. puniceus). Species classified as C. haematodes, C. tulliae and C. muelleri, as well as distinct lineages within C. cinnaberinus split during mid Pleistocene (ca. 1.5 Mya). A comparison of species climatic requirements and their present distribution allowed to identify glacial refugia in south-eastern areas of North America (C. clavipes), south-western areas of North America (C. puniceus), and the Mediterranean and Caspian Sea Basins (European Cucujus species), or south-eastern areas of Asia and the foothills of the central Asian mountains (eastern C. haematodes). Subsequent climatic changes in the Holocene forced these beetles to move their ranges northwards along the coasts of the Pacific (C. puniceus) or Atlantic (C. clavipes), north-eastwards to central, northern, and eastern Europe (C. cinnaberinus and European C. haematodes) or Siberia (Asian C. haematodes). The combined use of molecular, morphological and climatic data allows a comprehensive understanding of the phylogenetic relations and past distributions of Cucujus beetles, highlighting the complexity of C. haematodes species group evolution.

Corrigendum to: New data on biology and the occurrence of Exocentrus stierlini Ganglbauer, 1883 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Poland and Ukraine. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Natural History 27(online011), 1–14. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5801043.

Distributional data for 10 species of Peltidae, Lophocateridae, Trogossitidae and Thymalidae recorded from Poland are summarised, and numerous unpublished records are reported. Data on feeding and habitat preferences are analysed. Calitys scabra and Temnoscheila caerulea are probably extinct in Poland. Grynocharis oblonga, Nemozoma elongatum and Tenebroides mauritanicus are relatively common in Poland. Nemozoma caucasicum is currently spreading within Europe and several new records in Poland are reported. Peltis ferruginea, P. grossa, and Thymalus limbatus are restricted to natural forests in Poland, where they are sometimes abundant. We suggest adding Peltis ferruginea and Thymalus limbatus to the Polish Red List of Animals. The opinion that Grynocharis oblonga and Tenebroides mauritanicus are relicts of natural forests does not seem justified.

The aim of this work was to expand current knowledge on the species composition and distribution of the jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF) based on research conducted in 2000–2018 and a literature review. The BPF is considered the best-preserved forest of the European lowland and is a reference point for all forest research. Thus, knowledge of its fauna is vital. This research was conducted and incorporated the whole Polish part of the BPF, including Białowieża National Park (BNP), using standard methods for the faunistic studies of terrestrial beetles. We also investigated potential microhabitats of saproxylic buprestid beetles and reared larvae from inhabited host material. Collected larvae and/or pupae were identified in the laboratory or grown to the adult stage. However, most specimens were collected using various traps (Lindgren, Moericke, Netocia barrier type and IBL-2), especially traps placed in the upper tree canopy. Two species previously unrecorded in the BPF (Agrilus graminis, A. mendax) and new information on several of the rarest central European Buprestidae species (Buprestis splendens, Eurythyrea quercus, Anthaxia chevrieri, Chrysobothris chrysostigma, Agrilus antiquus croaticus, A. ater, A auricollis, A. convexicollis, A. pseudocyaneus) are presented here. Currently, 54 species of Buprestidae are known to occur in the BPF area, of which 49 were collected from the Polish part and 26 from the Belarusian part, while two species (Dicerca berolinensis and Eurythyrea austriaca) have no specified location data. Up to 39 species of buprestid beetles have been found in the BNP, which covers about 17% of the Polish part of BPF. We also provide an original key for differentiating Agrilus nicolanus – a species recently discovered in Poland (BPF and Biebrza Valley), that was previously known to occur only in Asia and the Lipetsk region in the European part of Russia – from the Agrilus betuleti species group. In conclusion, the BPF is an important refugium of buprestid beetle richness, including known forest relics.

We studied the phoretic relationships between the mites of the genus Trichouropoda Berlese, 1916 (Uropodina) and the longhorn beetle Plagionotus detritus (Linnaeus, 1758) based on large samples of specimens (2050 beetles and 19,216 mites) collected in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest in Central Europe. Phoresy was studied over the years 2014, 2015, and 2016, with the emphasis on multi-annual trends in host–phoront associations, seasonal changes in intensity of phoresy, proportion of carriers of mites in the beetle population, and preferences of phoretic deutonymphs for specific parts of the host’s body. The high repeatability in all the variables we studied indicates high stability of the phoretic relationships, probably resulting from the synchronization of life cycles of beetle dispersants and phoretic mites. The long-term coevolution of phoronts and carriers in a natural forest ecosystem, as well as the expected close association of mites with specific beetle-generated microhabitats in larval galleries, may be important factors affecting the strength of the phoretic relationship.

The beetles of the Suwalski Landscape Park (NE Poland) were studied between the years 2006−2013. The park covers an area of 6338 ha. Various field methods were used including sweep netting, dip netting, catching by hand, investigation of potential foraging sites of saproxylic beetles, rearing of cambio- and xylophagous larvae from inhabited material and attracting to artificial light sources. On the basis of our field studies and literature data, 1052 beetle species from 70 families were recorded, of which 715 have not been previously reported in the Park. One species – Variimorda briantea – is new to the Masurian Lake Region. The most numerous families were: rove beetles Staphylinidae (208 species), weevils Curculionidae (161 species), ground beetles Carabidae (99 species), leaf beetles Chrysomelidae (86 species) and true water beetles Dytiscidae (64 species). Among recorded beetles, 111 are rare and/or protected species. They were depicted on photographs and discussed in detail. Three species of Carabidae (Carabus coriaceus, C. glabratus, C. nitens) are protected by Polish law, another species belonging to this family – Epaphius rivularis – is listed in the Polish Red Data Book of Animals. A total of 32 species from the Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland were found, four species from the list of Primeval forest relict beetles of Central Europe (Peltis grossa, Tritoma subbasalis, Cryptophagus confusus, Corticeus suturalis), as well as 26 species listed in the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles. Areas within the Park, considered as the most interesting in terms of beetle fauna, were described. All recorded beetle species were characterized based on their habitat preferences. The most numerous group were open-area inhabitants (379 species) which constituted 36% of all species recorded in the Park. Two other main groups were a forestspecies (275) and water and riparian species (273). Each of these groups constitue 26% of all recorded beetles. The group of xerothermophilous beetles, which include: Philonthus lepidus, Dolichosoma lineare, Afrogethes tristis, Thymogethes lugubris, Olibrus bimaculatus, Hyperaspiscampestris, Mordellistena pseudonana, M. pseudoparvula, M. purpureonigrans, Anaspis brunnipes, Cassida pannonica, Dibolia cryptocephala, Ceratapion austriacum, Protapion ruficrus, Squamapion oblivium, Lixus tibialis, Cleopus solani, Tychius aureolus, T. medicaginis, T. schneideri, Ceutorhynchus nanus and Ethelcus denticulatus, are very interesting from the faunistic perspective. Adult beetles and larvae were characterized separately with reference to microhabitat and trophism, respectively. A comparison between the beetle faunas of the Suwalski Landscape Park and other protected areas in Poland was conducted. All beetle fauna of the Suwalski Landscape Park, together with particular taxonomic and ecological groups, were also compared with whole beetle fauna of Poland. Water beetles, with over 40% of all species known from Poland, are relatively well represented. Other families with fairly complete coverage in the Suwalski Landscape Park include marsh beetles Scirtidae (41%), apionid weevils Apionidae (37%), ladybirds Coccinellidae (28%), shining flower beetles Phalacridae (25%) and longhorn beetles Cerambycidae (23%). Total number of beetles recorded until now in the Suwalski Landscape Park (17% of Polish fauna) is not large. But considering such factors as intensity of research, area of the Park and its geographic location, it is quite rewarding. Future field investigations should increase the number of species known from the Park, especially in the less-intensively researched groups. Concept of protection of the species richness in the Suwalski Landscape Park was discussed with reference to different ecological groups and habitats. In the case of saproxylic beetles, the main threats are a low amount of dead wood in the forests, and its inferior quality (trees only with thin breast diameters, limited number of tree species). Establishing the designed reserve ”Peat bogs over the Jaczno Lake” is needed to ensure the protection for the most valuable area for saproxylic fauna. This area have also high importance for hygrophilous insects.

Este artículo contiene 11 páginas, 2 tablas, 4 figuras., Local biodiversity trends over time are likely to be decoupled from global trends, as local processes may compensate or counteract global change. We analyze 161 long-term biological time series (15–91 years) collected across Europe, using a comprehensive dataset comprising ~6,200 marine, freshwater and terrestrial taxa. We test whether (i) local long-term biodiversity trends are consistent among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, and (ii) changes in biodiversity correlate with regional climate and local conditions. Our results reveal that local trends of abundance, richness and diversity differ among biogeoregions, realms and taxonomic groups, demonstrating that biodiversity changes at local scale are often complex and cannot be easily generalized. However, we find increases in richness and abundance with increasing temperature and naturalness as well as a clear spatial pattern in changes in community composition (i.e. temporal taxonomic turnover) in most biogeoregions of Northern and Eastern Europe., We are grateful to the ILTER network and the eLTER PLUS project (Grand Agreement No. 871128) for financial support. We acknowledge the E-OBS dataset from the EUFP6 project ENSEMBLES (http://ensembles-eu.metoffice.com) and the data providers in the ECA&D project (http://www.ecad.eu). The evaluation of forest plant diversity was based on data collected by partners of the official UNECE ICP Forests Network (http://icp-forests.net/contributors); part of the data were co-financed by the European Commission, project LIFE 07 ENV/D/000218 “Further Development and Implementation of an EU-level Forest monitoring Systeme (FutMon)”. Data on wintering water birds in Bulgaria were provided by the national Executive Environment Agency with the Ministry of Environment and Waters. Data from the Finnish moth monitoring scheme were supported by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. Data from the Swedish ICP Integrated Monitoring sites were financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Data collection at Esthwaite Water and a subset of UK ECN sites was supported by Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/ R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCaPE programme delivering National Capability. Sponsorship of other UK ECN sites contributing data was provided by Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Natural Resources Wales, Defense Science Technology Laboratory, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Forest Research, the James Hutton Institute (The Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government), Natural England, Rothamsted Research, Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Welsh Government. Data from the Mondego estuary (Portugal) were supported by the Centre for Functional Ecology Strategic Project (UID/BIA/04004/2019) within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and COMPETE 2020, and by FEDER through the project ReNATURE (Centro 2020, Centro-01-765-0145-FEDER-000007). We would like to thank Limburgse Koepel voor Natuurstudie (LiKoNa) for the data related to the National Park Hoge Kempen (BE). We would like to acknowledge the support for the long-term monitoring program MONEOS in the Scheldt estuary (BE) by ‘De Vlaamse Waterweg’ and ‘Maritieme Toegang’ (Flemish government). We are grateful to the board of the National Park “De Hoge Veluwe” for the permission to conduct our research on their property. We thank Ian J. Winfield and Terje Bongard for contributing data for the sites: Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwent Water (UK) and Atna River (Norway, freshwater invertebrate time series). Open access funding provided by Umeå University.

Exotic bark and wood-boring beetles [Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae (Scolytinae)] are among the most damaging forest pests, and species of quarantine significance are frequently moved intercontinentally. Early detection of these potentially invasive species is critical for their effective management, and while current surveillance methods have intercepted many species, they failed to detect others that subsequently became significant pests. We evaluated the effects of trap height (canopy vs. understory) and lure type (host volatiles vs. blends of host volatiles and pheromones) on the efficacy of detecting bark and wood-boring beetles, with the objective of improving surveillance programs. Adding pheromones to host volatile-baited traps increased the number of species detected, but lure performance (mean catch and detection rate) varied among species. The effects of trap height also varied by taxa; some species were detected more often in the understory (e.g., Scolytinae), and others mainly in the canopy (e.g., Cerambycidae). Species assemblages in traps differed between the canopy and understory and also among lure types. The number of target species detected was increased by using combinations of different pheromone-enhanced lure blends and by placing traps in both the canopy and understory. Applying these results should improve early detection of exotic species commonly moved intercontinentally in wood packaging and products.

Wolbachia, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma and Cardinium are endosymbiotic and intracellular bacteria known to cause numerous disorders in host reproduction, reflected in their common name “male-killers”. In this study, 297 beetle species from various taxonomic groups were screened with the use of molecular markers for the presence of infection by any of these endosymbionts. Wolbachia was found to be the most common “male-killer” among beetle hosts as it infected approx. 27% of species. Rickettsia, Spiroplasma and Cardinium were much less prevalent as they infected: 8%, 3% and 2%, respectively, of the studied beetle species. This is the first report of Cardinium presence in beetle hosts. Incidences of co-infection of two bacteria taxa were very rare and only two weevil species were found to be infected by three different bacteria. These findings suggest that endosymbiotic bacteria inhabit their host at various levels of prevalence and that particular taxa usually infect different hosts, suggesting some competition among “male-killers”. This is the first study that simultaneously verifies infection status by all major endosymbiotic bacteria in hundreds of species (based on coleopterans).

We studied repeatability of phoretic relationships between Trichouropoda shcherbakae Hirschmann, 1972 and longhorn beetles Tetropium castaneum (Linnaeus, 1758) and Te. fuscum (Fabricius, 1787) in Bialowieza Primeval Forest in Central Europe. Samples of mites phoretic on two Tetropium Kirby, 1837 species were collected in 2008 and compared with the data from 2007. In both years, the same study plots and collecting methods were used in the same phenological periods. The phenomenon of phoresy was studied with emphasis on phoront–host associations, temporal changes in intensity of phoresy, proportion of carriers of mites in longhorn beetle populations, participation of longhorn beetle species in the transportation of mites, and preferences of phoretic deutonymphs for specific parts of the host’s body. The phoretic relationships are characterized by high repeatability in most of the variables we studied. This is indicative of high stability of the phoretic relationship, probably resulting from the long...

In Europe only some small isolated patches of forests with a high degree of naturalness still exist. These are forests, whose structure, composition and function has been shaped by natural dynamics without substantial anthropogenic influence over the long period. In this respect, Białowieża Forest is a unique location in Europe, with continuous forest cover for close to 12,000 years. The palynological, archaeological and historical data document only a weak anthropogenic fingerprint compared to other European lowland forests in Holocene history. Due to long-lasting protection, a large portion of the forest is still composed of stands originating from the pre-silvicultural period. Moreover, the stands of Białowieża Forest converted by silvicultural activities during the 20th century have the potential to recover owing to patches of stands with high naturalness, scattered throughout the forest. As conflict over management of the forest has recurred regularly for close to century, there is a need to summarize our knowledge on the forest history and natural assets, to help making scientifically informed decisions over its future. Expansion of a non-intervention approach to the Polish part of the forest is suggested to increase the stability of the entire ecosystem and enhance the chances for its successful adaptation to changing environmental conditions. This will increase the importance of Białowieża Forest as an open-door laboratory for biology, ecology, and forestry.

During the process of slow decay, dead wood is colonized by a diverse group of invertebrates. Pioneer communities of insects are composed of representatives of two families of beetles: Cerambycidae and Curculionidae, which may be carriers for mites. In this paper, we check which species of mites are carried by Monochamus sartor (Fabricius, 1787) in the largest natural forest complex in the North European Plain – The Bialowieza Primeval Forest. Individuals of the species were collected in June and July 2012 with 64 intercept traps. In the context of the previous studies on phoresy of mites on the bark beetle Ips typographus (Linnaeus, 1978) in Bialowieza Primeval Forest, we conclude that the process of colonization of decaying wood by diverse species of insects entails increase in mite species diversity in this habitat (merocenosis). Our research indicates that mites travel on elytra and pronota of M. sartor; however, dimensions (width and length) of these parts of body as well as the sex of the be...

Vespidae (Hymenoptera) of Białowieża Forest. State of knowledge and new faunistic records. The paper presents results of faunistic research on the family Vespidae (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) carried out on the territory of the Białowieża Forest with special attention paid to Białowieża National Park, as a result of field studies and collections queries. 42 species were recorded. Among them 8 are new for the Białowieża Forest: Ancistrocerus gazella (Panzer, 1798), Eumenes papillarius (Christ, 1791), E. pedunculatus (Panzer, 1799), Stenodynerus xanthomelas (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1839), Stenodynerus picticrus (Thomson, 1874), Symmorphus gracilis (Brullé, 1832), Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791). S. picticrus is also new for Poland. The knowledge about Białowieża Forest Vespidae has been summarized.

Stephanopachyslinearis (Kugelann, 1792) belongs to the family of horned powderpost beetles (Bostrichidae), represented in the fauna of Europe by 29 native species. It is a characteristic element of the northern, boreal zone of the Palaearctic and alpine areas of central and southern Europe. This species as a rare beetle important for the European Union, has been placed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles. S.linearis was described from Poland in 1792 and, after 220 years, again encountered in this country. The zoogeographical distribution is shown and elements of its biology and ecology are discussed.

Knowledge of Wolbachia prevalence with respect to its hosts is restricted mainly to taxonomic/phylogenetic context. In contrast, relations between infection and most host’s ecological and biological traits are poorly understood. This study aimed to elaborate on relations between bacteria and its beetle hosts in taxonomic and the ecological contexts. In particular, the goal is to verify which ecological and biological traits of beetles could cause them to be prone to be infected. Verification of Wolbachia infection status across 297 beetle taxa showed that approximately 27% of taxa are infected by supergroups A and B. Only minor support for coevolution between bacteria and its beetle hosts was observed in some genera of beetles, but in general coevolution between beetles and Wolbachia was rejected. Some traits of beetles were found to be unrelated to Wolbachia prevalence (type of range and thermal preferences); some traits were related with ambiguous effects (habitats, distribution, mobility and body size); some were substantially related (reproduction mode and trophy). The aforementioned summary does not show obvious patterns of Wolbachia prevalence and diversity in relation to host taxonomy, biology, and ecology. As both Wolbachia and Coleoptera are diverse groups, this lack of clear patterns is probably a reflection of nature, which is characterised by highly diversified and probably unstable relations.

The “Wallacean shortfall”—lack of distributional information—is one of the main problems when trying to assess the threats to and planning conservation strategies for many invertebrate species. Based on published and unpublished records since 1840, as well as on our own field survey, we attempted to estimate if and to what extent the use of pheromone traps increased the detectability of a rare, saproxylic click beetle Elater ferrugineus. The significant increase in the number of records in 2011–2013 shows that the pheromone method made it much easier to detect the occurrence of the species. Advantages of the pheromone method are that it does not disturb the habitat, can be used by non-specialists, is less costly and less time-consuming, and thus providing a useful tool for conservation research (studying biology, ecology and genetics of local populations).

Monochamol (2-undecyloxy-1-ethanol) is a male-produced aggregation pheromone for several Monochamus Dejean (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) species. We conducted trapping experiments in Canada, Poland, and China to test whether monochamol was attractive to additional Monochamus species and if attraction was synergised by plant volatiles and bark beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) pheromones. We provide the first evidence of attraction for M. urussovii (Fischer) and M. saltuarius (Gebler) to monochamol or monochamol+kairomones. The highest numbers of M. urussovii were captured in traps baited with monochamol+plant volatiles (Manuka oil, ethanol and (95/5±) α−pinene). Captures of M. saltuarius were highest in traps baited with monochamol, with the addition of cubeb oil tending to reduce captures. The highest numbers of M. scutellatus (Say) were captured in traps baited with monochamol+kairomones. A similar pattern in trap captures was found for M. notatus (Drury), M. marmorator Kirby, M. carolinensis (Olivier), and M. mutator LeConte. Detection rates, that is, proportion of traps capturing at least one specimen, was highest for traps baited with monochamol plus kairomones, particularly for less-common species. These results support the emerging hypothesis that pheromone compounds can attract related cerambycid species with cumulative evidence for attraction to monochamol for 12 species of Monochamus worldwide.

In this article, we review the distribution and new data on the occurrence of Xylocopa valga Gerst. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Poland. This is also the first report of X. valga occurring in the Białowieża Forest, where it was captured visiting flowers of Lychnis flos-cuculi L. in a sandy grassland adjacent to the forest in the vicinity of Grudki, a small village near Białowieża. All 15 known records of this species in Poland are compiled into a detailed list, and the location of each sighting is presented on the map. In two cases, the known distributional data have been corrected and were brought up to date. The first case is a forgotten record of the species (Popov 1947) that was reconstructed based on museum specimens collected in the 1870s at Karolath, Silesia (formerly Germany, currently Poland: locality now named Siedlisko), and this record was added to the list. However, the second case concerns a record from Tuchla near Jarosław (Banaszak 1989), which was excluded from the list because it had been published as a result of misinterpretation of the label on the old museum specimens. Information on the species’ biology, especially on the preferred habitats and nesting in dead wood, are also presented. X. valga is regarded as a saproxylic species occurring in forests, but its ability to inhabit the steppe zone is also discussed in this article. Furthermore, a list of flowering plants (95 species representing 30 families) visited by this bee species has been prepared based on the data from the literature as well as our own observations. The new record of X. valga in the Białowieża Forest in combination with the recent data from Western Europe suggests that this subpontic-mediterranean species is expanding its natural range probably due to climate change. We are thus also discussing its potential to spread further north.

Despite the fact that only parts of the Białowieża Forest are protected as a national park and nature reserves, the forest is nevertheless as a whole considered a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site, Biosphere Reserve and an integrated Natura 2000 site. In the presently ongoing debate on the conservation priorities regarding the natural value of this forest and the current bark beetle outbreak, two distinct approaches can be recognized: (1) management assumed to involve considerable interference with the forest ecosystems; (2) maintenance of ecological processes and spontaneous restoration of the forest communities. The Białowieża Forest - especially its strictly protected parts - is a “bastion” where species characteristic of ancient forests (including so-called primeval forest relicts) have survived until today. This has been achieved by maintaining the forest’s complexity in areas with considerably reduced human influence, but most of all by maintaining a full spectrum of forest communities, naturally developing forests diverse in age, species composition and spatial structure including stand dieback and breakdown. The following factors need to be taken into account in the protection of the Natural Heritage Site: (1) the internationally recognized value of the Białowieża Forest including its biodiversity, the level of preservation of forest communities and the ongoing natural processes; (2) existing documents and policies concerning nature conservation; (3) research findings from the Białowieża Forest and other natural forest complexes. The key priority is to limit any activities in this forest to an indispensable minimum, mostly concerning security close to roads and tourist tracks as well as collection of fire wood by locals. Without this strict protection, successive and slow anthropogenic transformation will result in the Białowieża Forest sharing the same fate as other forest complexes of the temperate climate zone in Europe or America and lose its globally appreciated value.

The aim of this study was to assess the phoretic relationship between two beetle species of the genus Tetropium and mites from order Mesostigmata. The study was conducted in the Białowieża Forest, which is recognized as one of Europe’s last natural forest areas. Insects were caught over a period of 8 weeks in 72 attractant traps (type Intercept IPM). In total 1250 specimens of genus Tetropium were collected. We analyzed 524 beetles, including 295 specimens of T. castaneum and 229 specimens of T. fuscum. On 49 beetles (9.4%) there were 785 individuals of Trichouropoda shcherbakae (Trematuridae). Mites were more common on T. fuscum, which carried 82% of all collected deutonymphs. Most of the mites found on beetles were attached to their legs. This study reports on changes in the intensity of phoresy in time and location of mite deutonymphs on their host species.

The aim of the study was to explore phoretic relationships between Plagionotus detritus and mites from the order Mesostigmata. In total, 635 individuals of P. detritus were caught, and mites were found on 86 of them. The dominant species among 8,154 individuals of mites was Trichouropoda sociata (8,152 individuals), and the sporadically found species were Lasioseius thermophilus (1 ind.) and Typhlodromus sp. (1 ind.). Generally, the difference in the total abundance of females and males of P. detritus was not statistically significant (311 females vs 324 males). The proportional abundance of P. detritus with T. sociata differed between samplings, and in the pooled data, the proportional abundance of P. detritus females with T. sociata (39.5%) was less than that for P. detritus males (60.5%).

Nine species of phoretic mesostigmatid mites are recorded on twelve species of beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Elateridae, Erotylidae, Scolytinae). The most numerous species of insects on which mites were found were Carabus granulatus (91 specimens of mites) and Plagionotus detritus (67). The most numerous mites were Iphidosoma fimetarium (100 specimens) and Trichouropoda sociata (77).

Sukcesja saproksylicznych chrząszczy (Coleoptera) na powierzchniach pohuraganowych w drzewostanach sosnowych Puszczy Piskiej4

Summary 1. Fires are nowadays small, yet frequent, in temperate Central European conifer forests, but little is known about the fire history in this region. This is likely due to the lack of intact forests that contain old trees and dead wood from which fire history may be reconstructed. An exception is the Bialowieza Primeval Forest (BPF) in Poland for which we were able to reconstruct the fire history in detail. 2. From 886 tree ring samples collected in a 13-ha conifer-dominated area, we reconstructed fire events and tree establishment back to the mid 1600s. From 1653 to the late 1700s fires were very frequent, with mean point (single tree) fire intervals of 18 years and mean stand scale fire intervals of 6 years. After 1781, the intervals between the fires increased dramatically, and since 1874 no major fire was recorded. 3. Tree establishment underwent substantial changes, closely tracking shifts in fire frequency. When fires were frequent, Pinus sylvestris establishment occurred only sporadically. Later, less frequent fires promoted massive establishment of both P. sylvestris and Picea abies. At present, only P. abies and a few deciduous trees regenerate. 4. Synthesis. We present the first high-resolution fire history in the Central European temperate lowland forest area. The discovery of old P. sylvestris trees and stumps with fire scars in many conifer-dominated parts of BPF show that fire was a major component in the past dynamics of this forest. We also show that historically, fires were recurring at very close intervals, supporting an open, Pinus-dominated forest. These result contrasts with the written history of BPF, which focus on a few, large fires from the past. Human influence on the fire regime was probably substantial, although the disentangling of climatic and human impacts needs further studies. We propose that fire should be increasingly taken into consideration in models of disturbance, vegetation development and forest openness in the whole Central European lowland forest region.

Release rates of a blend of monoterpenes (spruce blend) and ethanol significantly affected mean trap catch of Tetropium fuscum (F.), Tetropium castaneum L., and Tetropium cinnamopterum Kirby. Addition of an ethanol lure to traps baited with the spruce blend lure was necessary to attract T. castaneum and T. cinnamopterum and significantly increased attraction of T. fuscum. The combination of spruce blend and ethanol at high release rates had the highest mean catch of Tetropium spp. and was the only lure treatment that resulted in capture of T. fuscum and T. castaneum (in Poland) in every test block, suggesting it would be the best for detection surveys among the lures tested. The effect of trap design on mean catch of T. fuscum was inconsistent. In one experiment, the larger collapsible cross-vane Colossus trap caught about twice as many beetles as the IPM-Intercept trap, but in two other experiments, mean catch did not differ significantly. Type of killing agent in the collecting bucket significa...

Cortical and sapwood volatiles were collected in situ from red spruce, Picea rubens (Sarg.), trees infested with Tetropium fuscum (F.), to determine the relative concentrations and enantiomer ratios of monoterpenes emitted. This information was used to create a synthetic “spruce blend” lure that was tested in various trap designs for efficacy in capturing T. fuscum, and Tetropium castaneum L. in field bioassays conducted on McNabs Island, Nova Scotia, in 2001 and 2002 and in Poland and Switzerland in 2002. Response of other cerambycid species was measured opportunistically. Cross-vane pan traps baited with spruce blend caught significantly more T. fuscum than unbaited traps or traps baited with racemic α-pinene, ethanol, or both. The addition of an ethanol lure to spruce blend–baited traps significantly increased capture of T. fuscum and T. castaneum. There were no significant differences among trap designs in mean catch of either Tetropium species. Spruce blend was also significantly attractive ...

We recorded and reviewed densities and basal areas of large living and dead trees in old-growth forest in Europe. Recorded densities were similar to those reported from old-growth forests in eastern North America, but lower than in northwestern North America. Based on our results we suggest that, 10-20 living trees per ha with dbh > 70 cm may have been typical values for many central European and south Scandinavian virgin forests. In boreal forests, it was probably common with at least 20 living trees per ha with dbh > 40 cm. Basal areas of living trees in mixed old-growth forests in central Europe and southern Sweden were 34-40 m 2 per ha on dry,around and about 60 m 2 per ha in wet alder-ash-spruce forests. Densities of large trees (dbh > 40 cm) were twice as high in the latter forest type than on dry ground in Bialowiea forest, Poland. Based on our results, we propose the following generalizations to be further tested in other old-growth temperate and boreal forests: 1. Among all standing trunks (including high stumps) about 10% are dead, but this proportion increases for the largest trees. The proportion of standing trees that are dead seem to be independent of total basal areas. Based on this, we suggest that the volume of dead wood is directly proportional to the productivity of old-growth forests. 2. Standing dead trees (snags) are on average larger than downed dead trees. Trees with dbh > 40 cm often dominate the basal area and volume of standing dead trees and living trees. 3. About 30% (20-40%) of the basal area and volume of dead trees is standing in old-growth forests. This proportion seems to be independent of total volume of dead wood. Large disturbances by fire, strong winds and insects may temporarily change these proportions considerably in individual stands. (Less)

We recorded and reviewed densities and basal areas of large living and dead trees in old-growth forest in Europe. Recorded densities were similar to those reported from old-growth forests in eastern North America, but lower than in northwestem North America. Based on our results we suggest that, 10-20 living trees per ha with dbh > 70 cm may have been typical values for many central European and south Scandinavian virgin forests. In boreal forests, it was probably common with at least 20 living trees per ha with dbh > 40 cm. Basal areas of living trees in mixed old-growth forests in central Europe and southern Sweden were 34-40 m 2 per ha on dry ground and about 60 m(2) per ha in wet alder-ash-spruce forests. Densities of large trees (dbh > 40 cm) were twice as high in the latter forest type than on dry ground in Bialowieza forest, Poland. Based on our results, we propose the following generalizations to be further tested in other old-growth temperate and boreal forests: 1. Among all standing trunks (including high stumps) about 10% are dead. but this proportion increases for the largest trees. The proportion of standing trees that are dead seem to be independent of total basal areas. Based on this, we suggest that the volume of dead wood is directly proportional to the productivity of old-growth forests. 2. Standing dead trees (snags) are on average larger than downed dead trees. Trees with dbh >40 cm often dominate the basal area and volume of standing dead trees and living trees. 3. About 30% (20-40%) of the basal area and volume of dead trees is standing in old-growth forests. This proportion seems to be independent of total volume of dead wood. Large disturbances by fire, strong winds and insects may temporarily change these proportions considerably in individual stands. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)

The red flat bark beetle Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) is included as a protected species in the Berne Convention and the European Habitat Directive—Annex II and IV (92/43 EU of 21 May 1992) which requires the establishment of special areas of conservation in the European Union, and listing the species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species under the near-threatened category. Cucujus haematodes Erichson, 1845 is considered to be one of the most threatened saproxylic species, a relic of primeval forests, in many European countries (including Poland) under protection. Morphology of the larvae of two rare European species of the genus Cucujus ( cinnaberinus and haematodes ) is compared here. We point out differences which allow the two species to be properly distinguished and which, until now, have been omitted or misinterpreted in literature. The best characteristics seem to be the arrangement of minor spines on the top of basal tooth, the shape of frontal suture, size of stemmata, shape of I antennal joint, localization of basal tooth, and morphology of VIII abdominal tergites.

We analyzed habitat requirements of Boros schneideri (Panzer, 1796) (Coleoptera: Boridae) in the natural forests of the continental biogeographical region, using data collected in the Białowieża Forest. This species has been found on the six host trees, but it preferred dead, standing pine trees, characterized by large diameter, moderately moist and moist phloem but avoided trees in sunny locations. It occurred mostly in mesic and wet coniferous forests. This species demonstrated preferences for old tree stands (over 140-yr old), and its occurrence in younger tree-stand age classes (minimum 31–40-yr old) was not significantly different from random distribution. B. schneideri occupied more frequently locations distant from the forest edge, which were less affected by logging. Considering habitat requirements, character of occurrence, and decreasing number of occupied locations in the whole range of distribution, this species can be treated as relict of primeval forests.

The male-produced aggregation pheromones of Tetropium fuscum (F.) and T. cinnamopterum Kirby were identified as (2S,5E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadienol by chemical analysis, synthesis, electronantennography, and field trapping; the compound is here renamed “fuscumol”. The effect of fuscumol chirality, alone or with host volatiles, and fuscumol release rate on Tetropium spp. was tested in field-trapping experiments in Nova Scotia and Poland. Both (S)-fuscumol and racemic fuscumol synergized trap catches of male and female T. fuscum, T. cinnamopterum, and T. castaneum (L.) when combined with a blend of host monoterpenes and ethanol. Without added host volatiles, fuscumol was either unattractive (in Nova Scotia) or only slightly so (in Poland). (R)-Fuscumol, alone or in combination with host volatiles, did not elicit increases in trap capture of any Tetropium species, relative to the controls. Fuscumol synergized attraction of both sexes to host volatiles, thus indicating it acts as an aggregation pheromone. Sex ratio was often female-biased in traps baited with fuscumol plus host volatiles, and was either unbiased or male-biased in traps with host volatiles alone. In traps with host volatiles and racemic fuscumol, mean catches of Tetropium species were unaffected by fuscumol release rates ranging from 1 to 32 mg/d. The attraction of three different Tetropium species to the combination of (S)-fuscumol and host volatiles suggests that cross-attraction may occur where these species are sympatric, and that reproductive isolation possibly occurs via differences in close-range cues. These results have practical applications for survey and monitoring of T. fuscum, a European species established in Nova Scotia since at least 1980, and for early detection of T. castaneum, a European species not presently established in North America.

The pollination of the orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soo by Alosterna tabacicolor (Deg.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is recorded for the first time. This longhorn beetle—particularly the males—was found to be the main pollinator of orchids in the Bialowieza and Augustow Forests, NE Poland. The mechanism of pollination is described. Pseudocopulation was not observed; however, the possibility of sexual attraction of male A. tabacicolor to the orchids was not excluded. A certain dependence of D. fuchsii on the beetle species both ecologically (they appear simultaneously and are almost exclusively pollinated by these beetles) and geographically was observed. The consequences of the disappearance of one of these symbiotic partners are analysed. The evolution of longhorn beetle adaptation to flower pollination and problems of the preservation of orchids and their pollinators are discussed.

(E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-ol (geranyl acetol), termed here fuscol, was identified as a male-produced pheromone emitted by Tetropium fuscum (F.) and Tetropium cinnamopterum Kirby. In field experiments, traps baited with synthetic fuscol alone were not significantly attractive, but the combination of fuscol plus host volatiles (a synthetic blend of monoterpenes plus ethanol) attracted significantly more male and female T. fuscum and female T. cinnamopterum than did host volatiles alone. This is the first homoterpenoid alcohol to be described in the Cerambycidae, and the first pheromone reported from the sub-family Spondylidinae.