European regional assessment: assessed as Vulnerable as this species is entirely dependent upon veteran trees as it inhabits decaying heartwood. This is a very specific habitat type which is already highly fragmented and subject to continuing significant decline. Although this species has a relatively wide distribution, its Area of Occupancy is small as it is only found in veteran trees which are scattered across the landscape at very low densities. The Area of Occupancy of this species has not been quantified, but it is estimated to be less than 2,000 km² based on the very small number of known sites and the very specific habitat requirements of the species. The distribution is severely fragmented. The rate of loss of veteran trees has not been quantified, but it is significant. Moreover, there is very little regeneration of suitable habitat across the species' range. Once the existing veteran trees have died, there will be no replacements in many areas. Even if efforts are made now to re-plant appropriate tree species, there may still be a 'gap' during which time there would be very little suitable habitat available. Action is urgently needed to protect and appropriately manage existing veteran trees, as well as to ensure that suitable habitat continues to be available in future.

EU 27 regional assessment: assessed as Vulnerable (B2ab(iii,iv)), as this species is entirely dependent upon veteran trees as it inhabits decaying heartwood. This is a very specific habitat type which is already highly fragmented and subject to continuing significant decline. Although this species has a relatively wide distribution, its Area of Occupancy is small as it is only found in veteran trees which are scattered across the landscape at very low densities. The Area of Occupancy of this species has not been quantified, but it is estimated to be less than 2,000 km² based on the very small number of known sites and the very specific habitat requirements of the species. The distribution is severely fragmented. The rate of loss of veteran trees has not been quantified, but it is significant. Moreover, there is very little regeneration of suitable habitat across the species' range. Once the existing veteran trees have died, there will be no replacements in many areas. Even if efforts are made now to re-plant appropriate tree species, there may still be a 'gap' during which time there would be very little suitable habitat available. Action is urgently needed to protect and appropriately manage existing veteran trees, as well as to ensure that suitable habitat continues to be available in future.

A Palaearctic species, distributed as far north as Sweden, and eastwards discontinuously via the Caucasus and Asia Minor, to Iran to Japan (Laibner 2000).

In Ukraine it occurs in the western slopes of the Carpathians. In Britain confined to the south and south-east of England, although there is one old record from north Wales (Mendel and Clarke 1996). Absent from Ireland.

Generally a rare species with scattered localities across its distribution. Population declines have been noted in at least some areas.

In the UK it has a very fragmented distribution with about 30 modern localities known across southern and south-eastern England, mostly very isolated, and with a similar number of old sites with no modern confirmation - estimated 50% loss of sites since early 20^th century (Mendel and Clarke 1996). In Spain there are only five known localities, two of which are based on old data (from 1930s) (Recalde Irurzun and Sánchez-Ruiz 2005). In France there are small number of localities in old-growth sites. In Italy there are fewer than ten known localities, mainly from old records. In Germany it is locally Extinct in about half of the federal states; around 20-25 localities in the remainder of the territory. In Denmark it is rare and local; only present in the east (National Environmental Research Institute 2007). In Sweden there are only two subpopulations recorded in the last ten years. 

In the Czech Republic there are scattered localities; in Slovakia it is more numerous but still relatively rare (Laibner 2000). In Hungary the populations are sporadic in the hilly and lower mountainous areas, but sometimes the individuals are numerous. In Poland there are only two recent localities known. In Ukraine it is a rare species. There is no detailed information available for the Greek population.

This is an obligate saproxylic species. A heartwood decay specialist restricted to veteran trees; also old fruit trees in orchards.

The larvae develop in soft and very humid white-rotten heartwood and black wood mould, mainly in old open-grown ash Fraxinus and elm Ulmus, but also field maple Acer campestre, beech Fagus, oak Quercus, chestnut Castanea, and other broad-leaved tree species; generally beneath bird nests; in live trees as well as stubs and snags; larvae are saprophagous (Leseigneur 1972) or predators and necrophagous (Dolin 1988); pupate at end of season and overwinter as adult. Adults are active in V-VI and are crepuscular (Alexander 2002).

It lives in naturally preserved forest-steppe formations, flood-plain biotopes and old parks (Laibner 2000). In Hungary it occurs mainly in oak forests where old trunks and stumps with near-ground cavities filled with wood mould are available; sometimes also in other tree species (maple, ash, elm) (O. Merkl pers. comm. 2009). In Ukraine considered a tertiary relict of primary broad-leaved forests. In Britain the sites are generally ancient wood pastures, historic parklands and traditional orchards within the cultural landscape, as well as old forest (Alexander 2002).

This species is restricted to veteran trees, so any activities which destroy these trees (e.g. cutting down avenues) is strongly detrimental to the species. The main overall threat is likely to be degradation or loss of habitat quality, involving structural changes in the tree populations arising from changing land use – affecting age structures and tree density. Exploitation from forestry is often a key immediate issue, but equally damaging can be long-term changes towards canopy closure and loss of ancient trees as a result of non- or minimum-intervention management systems which all too often exclude grazing by large herbivores. Fragmentation and increasing isolation of beetle populations are also key factors.

Saproxylic Coleoptera tend to be popular with beetle collectors although trade is rarely an issue, the only exceptions being a few larger species of more dramatic form or colour.

Generally, the most important conservation measure to be recommended is the protection of large old trees of appropriate species, and habitat management to ensure that there is a constant or increasing supply of such veteran trees in future.

The species occurs in several protected areas (e.g. UK, Hungary).

It is listed as Vulnerable in Denmark (2005). In the UK it also has Conservation Status, Nationally Scarce (Hyman and Parsons 1992).