Orthotomicus longicollis
Local name: avlång barkborre
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Andrei, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Andrei
Overview
The avlång barkborre (Orthotomicus longicollis) is a small cylindrical bark beetle measuring 3-4mm in length with a distinctive elongated pronotum and reddish-brown coloration. This species plays a crucial ecological role as both a decomposer of dead coniferous wood and as a food source for woodpeckers and other insectivorous birds in Scandinavian forest ecosystems.
The avlång barkborre faces significant threats from climate change-induced shifts in forest composition and temperature regimes that affect its host tree relationships. Intensive forest management practices, including clear-cutting and monoculture plantations, reduce habitat quality and connectivity. Additionally, the species is vulnerable to competition from invasive bark beetle species and fungal pathogens that can disrupt its reproductive success.
Habitat
This bark beetle species inhabits coniferous forests, particularly spruce and pine stands, where it creates breeding galleries in the bark of both healthy and stressed trees. It shows preference for mature forest ecosystems with diverse age structures and is found primarily in boreal and temperate coniferous woodland environments.
Other threatened species in Curculionidae
Threatened in Austria
Frequently asked questions
Why is avlång barkborre classified as Vulnerable?
Where does avlång barkborre live?
What are the main threats to avlång barkborre?
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