Tetratoma desmarestii
CR

Tetratoma desmarestii

Local name: brun lövsvampbagge

Unknown

Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Kevin Gielen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kevin Gielen

Overview

The brun lövsvampbagge (Tetratoma desmarestii) is a small, brown fungus beetle belonging to the family Tetratomidae. These beetles are specialized decomposers that feed on bracket fungi and other wood-inhabiting fungi, playing a crucial role in forest nutrient cycling by breaking down fungal matter.

Tetratoma desmarestii is critically endangered primarily due to the loss and degradation of old-growth deciduous forests, particularly those containing its host fungi on dead and decaying hardwood trees. The species requires very specific microhabitat conditions found only in mature forest ecosystems with sufficient dead wood and fungal diversity, which have become increasingly rare due to intensive forestry practices and habitat fragmentation.

Threat summary

Habitat

The species inhabits mature deciduous and mixed forests where it lives in association with bracket fungi growing on dead or dying hardwood trees, particularly beech, oak, and birch. It requires forests with substantial amounts of coarse woody debris and a continuous supply of fungal host species.

Frequently asked questions

Why is brun lövsvampbagge classified as Critically Endangered?
brun lövsvampbagge is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Tetratoma desmarestii is critically endangered primarily due to the loss and degradation of old-growth deciduous forests, particularly those containing its host fungi on dead and decaying hardwood trees. The species requires very specific microhabitat conditions found only in mature forest ecosystems with sufficient dead wood and fungal diversity, which have become increasingly rare due to intensive forestry practices and habitat fragmentation.
Where does brun lövsvampbagge live?
brun lövsvampbagge occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to brun lövsvampbagge?
The main threats to brun lövsvampbagge are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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