The beetles of decaying wood in Ireland - National Parks & Wildlife ...

Saproxylic beetles of Ireland
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The data is primarily derived by extraction from published literature and contact with the active
recorders that are known to the authors. The record is almost certainly not complete however, as
unpublished information will largely remain uncollated for the time being.
Analysis of status
274 species are listed of which at least 208 are native – see Table 1. Nine of these species may now be
extinct, having not been reported since Johnson & Halbert (1902) – see below. This is clearly a rich
fauna, despite the various opinions which have been expressed over the years – see Introduction.
However, only 25 species can be considered common and widespread, in contrast to the 104 (50%)
species which have been assessed as rare in Ireland. This suggests a serious imbalance in species
status, reflecting the overall rarity and fragility of saproxylic habitats across Ireland.
Eight additional species are thought to be doubtfully Irish as only old records have been reported and
no supporting voucher specimens are available, while the status of a further 8 have proved impossible
to assess on the scant information available. 35 species are established non-natives, largely
accidentally brought in by commercial forestry activities. There is also a clear trend of recent arrivals
making first landfall in Northern Ireland, presumably carried from Scotland on air currents – 8 species
have first appeared in the north-eastern counties and have proceeded to spread.
The species presumed to be extinct in Ireland are: Nossidium pilosellum (Marsham), Amphicyllis globus
(F.), Agathidium rotundatum Gyllenhal, Euplectus punctatus Mulsant, Cypha seminulum (Erichson),
Calambus bipustulatus (L.), Malthodes dispar (Germar), Anthocomus fasciatus (L.) and Conopalpus testaceus
(Olivier). These represent a wide variety of saproxylic habitat types.
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Figure 1: The distinctive larva of the Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis © Keith Alexander