European regional assessment: listed as Least Concern. In general it seems to be a widespread and more or less stable species in Europe, with the exception of range states on the northern and north-western distribution limits of the species where some very significant declines have been reported. It is assessed as Least Concern at the regional level (although in some range states it is threatened).
EU 27 regional assessment: listed as Least Concern. In general it seems to be a widespread and more or less stable species in Europe, with the exception of range states on the northern and north-western distribution limits of the species where some very significant declines have been reported. It is assessed as Least Concern at the regional level (although in some range states it is threatened).

This species has a patchy distribution throughout almost all regions of Europe (with the exception of the far north). In Hungary this species is sporadic in the hilly and mountainous regions (O. Merkl pers. comm. 2009). In Romania it is widespread especially in the forests from south and south-western Carpathians. In Portugal it occurs in the northern half, with very few records in the last 50 years. In France it is widespread and common. It is very localised in the UK, with just one large population and a three smaller populations. It is very localized in the south of Sweden and is restricted to a small area near Oslo (Norway).

In general it seems to be a widespread and more or less stable species in Europe, with the exception of range states on the northern and north-western distribution limits of the species where some very significant declines have been reported.

In the UK it has declined dramatically in recent decades and the range has contracted significantly; one large landscape-scale population survives plus three small isolated populations (K.N.A. Alexander pers. comm. 2009). In Denmark it is very rare and possibly Extinct; there have been very few new findings. In Latvia there is a single population known (D. Telnov pers. comm. 2009). In Spain it is restricted to the old wood pastures of the Cordillera Cantabrica and Pyrenees (Micó and Galante 2002); more than 30 localities are known. In Ukraine it is relatively common. In Hungary the extant populations seem to be constant (O. Merkl pers. comm. 2009). In Romania there are stable populations with a high number of individuals in the forests from south-western Carpathians, near the border with Serbia.

This is an obligate saproxylic species. The larvae develop in wood mould in the base of hollow living trees, usually trunks and main boughs with large cavities containing large volumes of wood mould, primarily derived from natural fungal decay of the dead heartwood; red- and white-rot provide suitable larval habitat. Larvae normally take two years to develop in the UK, longer where conditions not optimal. The situation of the occupied hollow trees may vary across its European range, with open-grown trees important in the cooler and damper west, but shade more important under more continental conditions (K.N.A. Alexander pers. comm. 2009). In Ukraine the adults are active in  V -VII, often feeding at flowers of elder Sambucus nigra; the larvae are mainly found in old oaks, but also in Populus, Salix, and fruit trees; the life cycle is one year and the larvae hibernate. In Hungary, larvae develop not only in hollow trees but also in dead lying trunks (O. Merkl pers. comm. 2009). In Romania adults can be found on white flowers, for example Sambucus ebulus (P. Istrate pers. comm. 2009).

In the UK, the species clearly needs old open-grown trees; it is not found in closed-canopy shady situations. The majority of sites are traditional fruit orchards, using old hollowing plum Prunus domesticus, apple Malus, cherry Prunus sp. and pear Pyrus trees. Also known from hollow forest oaks Quercus in two sites (K.N.A. Alexander pers. comm. 2009). In Hungary the species is found in broad-leaved forests where dead wood is abundant, mainly in stream valleys and ravine forests (O. Merkl pers. comm. 2009).

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.

The loss of old trees in traditional orchards, either through replacement with younger trees, or through complete destruction of the orchard are a main factor causing a negative impact on this species in the UK; also canopy closure is a threat as this cools the wood mould and slows larval development (K.N.A. Alexander pers. comm. 2009).

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.

In the UK a new initiative has been started to encourage good conservation practice in traditional orchards through the UK Government's Biodiversity Action Plan. Traditional orchards are now being inventoried across the country, but no monitoring scheme is yet in place. The species occurs in several protected areas (e.g. Romania, Hungary). This species is listed as Critically Endangered in Denmark (2003) and Vulnerable in Britain.