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
pitfall traps into tree cavities and (2) black cross windows traps baited with a specific pheromone produced
by male beetles. The first method, often used in northern and central Europe, did not give acceptable
results in Italy probably because of the scarcity of veteran trees with large hollows. It could only be used
successfully in areas where: 1) tree hollows were abundant, large enough and with sufficient amounts of
wood mould for planting pitfall traps and 2) the team is composed of several operators in order to ensure
the checking of at least 150 traps every two days during the whole period of mating activities (15 July–25
August). The second method, consisting of hanging 30 black cross window traps during the mating period
and checking them every two days, turned out to be better for capturing a significant number of individuals
but cannot be used every year because of the possible disturbance on mating activities of the species.