Saproxylic beetles from the dead wood of the Plaiul Fagului Reserve, Republic of Moldova

Abstract

In 2024, the coleopteran species of the strictly protected area of the Plaiul Fagului Reserve were studied using the method of trunk traps and direct collections from logs. A total of 64 coleopteran species from 31 families were revealed. Among these, the species Corticeus unicolor Piller and Mitterpacher, 1783, Cis boleti (Scopoli, 1763) and Nematodes filum (Fabricius, 1801) are firstly reported for the fauna of the Republic of Moldova. Among the rare species recorded in the old forest, stand out saproxylic species Bothrideres bipunctatus, Corticeus fasciatus, Gnorimus nobilis, Megatoma undata, Omoglymmius germari, Oxylaemus cylindricus, Platydema dejeanii, Rosalia alpina and Xylophilus testaceus. The old monodominant beech forest and sessile forest in combination with elm, hornbeam, ash and cherry in the Plaiul Fagului Reserve, is very important for the conservation of biodiversity as well as saproxylic coleoptera from the central European temperate zone. The saproxylic species registered in the reserve indicate a rare fauna, specific to old forests of regional and European importance.

Keywords

• coleoptera
• biodiversity
• “umbrella species”
• rare species
• protected area