Worthy woodboring beetles on forest fire areas
The woodboring beetle fauna is being analysed by Büro Umland on behalf of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development.
Woodboring beetles are indispensable for the forest. Pioneer insects such as bark beetles, longhorned beetles and jewel beetles colonise the freshly dead wood and detach parts of the bark. The larvae break up the wood and thus increase the surface for many wood-degrading fungi and bacteria. Holes and larval galleries increase the moisture and oxygen supply inside the wood, which accelerates wood decomposition. Without the beetles, this decomposition would take much longer. The feeding galleries in the dead wood also provide a habitat for other insects such as wild bees and parasitic wasps.
The following picture emerges from the PYROHOB areas:
Pine forest fire areas, where dead trees have been completely or partially left on the site, offer very high-quality habitats for a species- and individual-rich deadwood beetle fauna due to the extensive supply of dead wood and a microclimate that favours warmth.
Various beetle species classified as very rare or endangered in Brandenburg and throughout Germany, including species closely adapted to forest fires, such as the black pine splendour beetle (Melanophila acuminata), have been recorded.
Species classified as "forest pests", such as various bark and jewel beetles, also sometimes develop in higher numbers of individuals in the dead pines on forest fire areas. However, the beetles did not cause any damage to directly neighbouring pine forests not affected by the forest fire.
Forest fire areas where the dead trees have been completely cleared only offer suitable living conditions for a limited range of species, especially for wood beetles that develop in root stumps.
The picture gallery shows typical species:
Black pine juwel beetle (Melanophila acuminata) - a species of wood beetle closely associated with forest fires. (Photo: Heinrich Hartong)
Infrared-sensitive pit organ of the black pine juwel beetle, with which the beetle can find forest fires over large distances. (Photo: Heinrich Hartong)
Deadwood, such as here on a burnt area, provides a habitat for many wood beetles, including endangered or rare species. (Photo © Dr Tilo Geisel 2021)
Hairless weevil (Mycterus curculioides) - the only occurrence in Germany on burnt areas in the Jüterbog and Treuenbrietzen areas. (Photo: Heinrich Hartong)
Ladybird jewel beetle (Chalcophora mariana) - a thermophilic species of jewel beetle. (Photo: Heinrich Hartong)
Carpenter longhorn (Ergates faber) - large longhorn beetle species that prefers to develop in pine stumps. (Photo: Heinrich Hartong)
Twelve-toothed pine bark beetle (Ips sexdentatus) - bark beetle species widespread on pine forest fire areas. (Photo: Heinrich Hartong)
Bark beetle Carphoborus minimus - this beetle, which is only just over one millimetre in size, was detected for the first time in the state of Brandenburg and otherwise only occurs sporadically in south-west Germany. (Photo: Heinrich Hartong)
In the second wave of colonisation, the dead wood is colonised by the lesser stag beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus), whose growing larvae feed on decaying wood. (Photo © Dr. Tilo Geisel 2022)