European regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT)
EU 27 regional assessment: Not Recorded

Trichius orientalis is an obligate saproxylic species of bee beetles native to the temperate deciduous forests of the southern, mountainous part of Crimea in Europe. The known European extent of occurrence (EOO) is about 5,500 km², the potential European area of occupancy (AOO) is unlikely to exceed 500 km². The population size and trend are unknown, but the species is uncommon in Crimea. The main threat is likely decline in extent and quality of the habitat, but this requires further confirmation considering the fact the forests cover in mountainous southern Crimea has been stable for the past two decades. The species is precautionarily assessed as Near Threatened B2b(iii) as it is possible that the habitat quality is continually declining, or may begin to decline in the near future.

In Europe, this species is only found in Crimean Peninsula (Ukraine) (Bezděk 2016) where it inhabits the southern, mountainous and forested part only. The record from Bulgaria is erroneous (Bunalski 2001). The European extent of occurrence is about 5,500 km². The known European are of occupancy (AOO) is about 160 km², and the potential AOO unlikely to exceed the threshold of 500 km².

Outside of the European range, this species is also found in Syria (Bezděk 2016) and eastern Türkiye (GBIF 2023).

The population size and trend are unknown. This species is not abundant (A. Putchkov pers. comm. 2009) but is observed regularly. All European individuals are in one subpopulation.

This is an obligate saproxylic species that occurs in temperate deciduous forests of Fagus oak Quercus. Larvae develop in decaying wood of fallen trunks and stumps of beech and oak, likely also other deciduous trees. It has one generation per year (univoltine), with larvae hibernating. Adults are anthophilous, feeding on various flowers (mostly Compositae), and appearing in June and July. It is diurnal, preferring open habitats near forested habitat - including forest edges, meadows and glades. The available habitat appears stable - according to the Global Forest Watch (World Resources Institute 2023), the loss of forest cover in south Crimea was insignificant during the last 20 years (less than 1%).

Decline of extent and quality of the habitat caused by unregulated and uncontrolled development and collecting wood for construction and firewood are likely to threaten this species. It is also likely affected or to be affected by mismanagement and misplanning and a lack of proper control in nature conservation areas in Crimea caused by the military occupation. Most of the known localities and a large proportion of suitable habitat are outside nature conservation areas (A. Putchkov pers. comm. 2009).

It is used for scientific research. It appears in international trade for collecting purposes.

Trichius orientalis occurs in several local and national nature conservation areas in Crimea, but the main part of the population is not protected.