This April, we are highlighting a species with a real tongue-twister of a Latvian name – priežu sveķotājkoksngrauzis (Nothorhina muricata).

The beetle has an elongated and flattened body shape. The elytra, head, and pronotum are dark brown, while the legs and antennae are brown. The pronotum is rough-textured with a lighter patch in the center. The body surface is covered with fine hairs. It can be distinguished from other similar species living in the same habitat by its relatively small size.

Interesting fact: The beetle is one of the species positively affected by fire – fire prevents excessive shading by reducing undergrowth around the beetle's host trees, which are themselves resistant to fire. Fire is the most important natural disturbance factor in the beetle’s habitats.

Map by Jānis Ukass

In Latvia, the species is threatened by the loss of suitable habitat – specifically, the logging of old, dry pine forests and the decline in habitat quality caused by overgrowth of dense underbrush and young trees, which leads to increased shading. The species has been assessed as Vulnerable (VU) in the project. Unfortunately, due to intensive forestry practices, its range is declining across Europe.