Ricerc@Sapienza

Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763) is a saproxylic scarab beetle protected by the Habitats Directive in the
European Union. The present paper is part of a special issue on monitoring of saproxylic beetles protected
in Europe and starts with a revision of the current knowledge on systematics, ecology, ethology and conservation
of O. eremita and its allied species, followed by experimental tests of different methods for monitoring
its populations. Two methods were compared in several localities of central Italy: (1) the widely used

The implementation of conservation actions requires a reliable assessment of presence and/or abundance of targeted species. This is particularly difficult for rare and elusive species. In this study the use of bottle traps and the effects of two potential baits in relation to height in the trees were tested to detect presence and assess abundance of stag beetles (Lucanidae) and flower chafers (Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), an important component of forest biodiversity. The study was carried out in a flood-plain forest of northern Italy.