Osmoderma eremita, a rare European species.
Osmoderma eremita is one of the bigger beetle species in Europe. It's size is between 2 and 4 cm big. There are populations in Germany as well. It is a very very rare species. A funny feature in that species is that they smell like Russian leather, sometimes one can even smell them out of the trees that they inhabit, it is very funny to know that there are beetles around, without seeing any. The beetles and larvae live in tree hollows. This might be the main reason, why they are very rare and their population is decreasing due to official sources.
Tilia spec. trees, very old and hollow. These trees are perfectly suitable for Osmoderma eremita
It is a problem that they inhabit only hollow trees and nothing else, so once the tree is cut down, the population of that tree distinguishes. Another problem is that these beetles are really slow and so not seem to fly well and far, even though I heard that they fly on warm evenings. When observing imagines to me it seemed that these beetles stay most of the time in the hollow trees and only come out when it is really hot to take a sunbath (more likely to attract males, maybe ?) , but even then they do not really move far out off the tree.
Pieces of imago in larval faeces, hollow tree larval faeces
I found them this summer for the first time in my life in old Tilia spec. trees that are growing in an alley in Saxony in Germany. I was only observing them, as it is a protected and really rare species and really enjoyed taking pictures and smell these animals. I know there is a very good homepage, where you can learn more and more details about this interesting beetle. It is: http://www.eremit.net One thing which I do not understand about the governmental Protection of species, is that they never start any breeding programmes, which would make it easier to repopulate areas.
Osmoderma eremita male
If there are any questions or suggestions please email to: Benjamin Harink
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