Natural Habitats
From Bugwoodwiki
Csóka, GY., and Kovács, T. 1999. Xylophagous insects. Forest Research Institute. Erdészeti Turományos Intézet. Agroinform Kiadó, Budapest. 189 pp.
Categorising the xylophagous insects according to given forest types is difficult. However some kind of grouping can be made based on the ecological demands of the insects.
Both evergreen forest types characteristic of the true Mediterranean regions and their character species (Trichoferus griseus and Cerambyx carinatus) are absent from Hungary. However some Mediterranean characteristics can be found on the Southern Transdanubia, in the Transdanubian Medium Height Mountains (Stromatium unicolor, Herophila tristis), in the oak forests and downy oak shrub-forests of the southern slopes of the Northern Mountain of Medium. Characteristic rare species of these areas are Kisanthobia ariasi, Anthaxia hungarica, Deroplia genei and Camptorrhinus statua. These high diversity natural habitats have often fallen victim pine plantations and viticulture. Some Mediterranean effects can also be detected in older fruit orchards, chestnut and walnut groves. Although these are not natural habitats, their richness can be significant. Characteristic rare species are: Capnodis tenebrionis, Aurigena lugubris, Purpuricenus kaehleri and Ropalopus femoratus.
A major part of our forests belong to the medium mountain oak forest zone (oaks with turkey oak between 200-550 m altitude and oaks with hornbeam between 500-700 m). Characteristic species: Lucanus cervus, Aesalus scarabeoides, Cetonischema aeruginosa, Liocola lugubris, Oryctes nasicornis, Trichoferus pallidus, Cerambyx cerdo, Purpuricenus kaehleri, Ropalopus insubricus and Morinus funereus. Old willow and alder forests along the stream beds - habitat of Gnorimus nobilis and Gnorimus variabilis - can also be found here. The characteristic rare, mono-, or oligophagous species of old pussy willow stands are Lampra dives, Xylotrechus panterinus and Saperda similis.
The beech zone in the medium height mountains is located from 600 m upwards to the summits. Most common is the beech-hornbeam submontane forest, while the pure montane beech forest is typical above 800 m. In the more humid Transdanubia good beech forest can be found even at 200 m. Characteristic species of beech forests are Sinodendron cylindrum, Necydalis major, Rosalia alpina, Morinus funereus.
More-or-less natural coniferous forests can be found in only the more humid and colder regions of Transdanubia. Characteristic rare species: Chalcophora mariana, Ergates faber, Monochamus saltuarius, Urocerus gigas.
A characteristic species of the old softwood forests along rivers is Osmoderma eremita. The characteristic species of medium mountain forests, such as Lucanus cervus, Cetonischema aeruginosa, Liocola lugubris, Cerambyx cerdo can often be found in lowland oak-ash-elm mixed forests.
 Photo by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org true Mediterranean regions |  Photo by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org oak forests and downy oak shrub-forests of the southern slopes of the Northern Mountain of Medium |  Photo by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org medium mountain oak forest zone |
 Photo by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org oligophagous species of old pussy willow |  Photo by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org pure montane beech forest |  Photo by Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org regions of Transdanubia |
