Lucanidae of the Baltic Sea Region

LUCANIDAE (COLEOPTERA) OF THE BALTIC SEA REGION
AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES

Dmitry TELNOV

Entomological Society of Latvia, the Section of Coleopterology
Private address: Praulienas iela 4-35, LV-1021, Riga, Latvia / Lettland; E-mail: telnov@parks.lv

Abstract: Lucanidae (Coleoptera) fauna of the Baltic Sea region and adjacent territories was analysed. Data on biology, distribution and protection of species is given.

Key words: Coleoptera, Lucanidae, Baltic Sea region, fauna.

INVESTIGATION AREA

The area of this work includes the following European countries: Denmark (DK), Germany (D), Poland (PL), Latvia (LV), Lithuania (LT), Estonia (EE), Belarus (BY), Karelia Region (NW Russia, RU), Finland (FI), Sweden (S) and Norway (N) - Fig.1.

Fig. 1. The area of investigations.

Countries of Western and Northern Europe such as DK, D, FI, S, N have a natural environment which has been largely destroyed by the long and intensive human economic activities. In these countries there are remnants of biotopes that have not altered greatly from their natural state, and most of them have now been designated as protected areas. In Eastern Europe (and particularly in the republics of the former USSR), the natural world has remained largely undamaged as a consequence of the non-intensive agricultural methods practised over many years. In these countries the situation regarding primary biotopes is not so problematical as in Western Europe.

Stag beetles develop in the rotten wood of fallen or old trees. Because of this close connection with old and dead trees, Lucanidae occur in old forests and parks. Lucanidae species are more common in the countries of the eastern part of the Baltic region (PL, LT, LV, EE, BY, RU) because the environment is better for them there.

IDENTIFICATION

There are not problems to identified imago of all species of the Baltic Sea region. But it is not so easy to identified larvae. T.-E. LEILER (1950) gives an key to identification of Swedish stag beetles' larvae in his work. I include figures of terminal segments of some Lucanidae species from our region - Fig.2.

Fig. 2. Terminal segments of larvae of Lucanidae (upper row in caudal view, lower row in ventral view).

K. HURKA (1978) gives identification key to genera of Lucanids' larvae, too.

LIST OF SPECIES WITH COMMENTS ON ECOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND PROTECTION OF SPECIES IN THE REGION

Familia LUCANIDAE
    Subfamilia Syndesinae
       Sinodendron cylindricum
    Subfamilia Lucaninae
       Lucanus cervus
       Dorcus parallelopipedus
       Platycerus caprea
       Platycerus caraboides
       Ceruchus chrysomelinus
    Subfamilia Aesalinae
       Aesalus scarabaeoides

Familia LUCANIDAE LATREILLE, 1806

Subfamilia Syndesinae MACLEAY, 1819

Sinodendron cylindricum (LINNAEUS, 1758)

Biology, ecology: Larvae growth approx. three years in rotten wood of deciduous trees. Larvae develop in trunks, branches and roots. Imago is common in deciduous and mixed forests from March until October. Imago is active during the day. This species can be a pest of wood used for technical purposes.

Typical biotopes of this species in Latvia - Figs.3-4.

Fig. 3. Moist mixed forests of the Kemeri National Park (Central Latvia) is the most typical biotope of Sinodendron cylindricum (Photo: Telnov, IV.1997).

Fig. 4. Mixed forest in the valley of Perlupe river near Ieriki (Central Latvia) (Photo: Telnov, IV.1996).

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

Protection: Protected in Germany (3^rd category - rare).

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

Subfamilia Lucaninae LATREILLE, 1806

Lucanus cervus (LINNAEUS, 1758)

Biology, ecology: Larva growth normally five, max. eight years in rotten wood of oaks (Quercus spp.), limes (Tilia spp.), beeches (Fagus spp.), willows (Salix spp.), poplars (Populus spp.), hazels (Corylus spp.), ashes (Fraxinus spp.), chestnut-trees (Castania spp.), fruit-trees (for ex., cherry-tree), very rare in coniferous trees. Larvae develop in trunks and roots. Imago occurs in deciduous forests, parks and alleyesin early summer. Imago is active in the twilight and by night. This species is not a pest of wood used for technical purposes.

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

Fig. 5. Lucanus cervus and Aesalus scarabaeoides occure in the old deciduos forests (Hainich National Park, Thuringia, Germany) (Photo: Telnov, VI.1995).

Distribution in the region: Germany, Denmark, Poland, Latvia (northern border of distribution area), Lithuania, Estonia (northern border of distribution area), Belarus, Sweden.

Protection: Protected in Germany (2^nd category - vulnerable), Denmark (0 category - extinct), Poland (2^nd category - vulnerable), Latvia (0 category - extinct), Lithuania (1^st category - endangered), Estonia (0 category - extinct), Belarus (the 2^nd category - vulnerable), 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.

Lucanus cervus (LINNAEUS, 1758) var. capreolus SULZER, 1776

This variation differs from the typical form in that it is small in size and has small mandibles.

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.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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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