Der Eremit - Osmoderma eremita

We are looking for genetic samples of Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) from all regions within its distribution area. If you can provide us with beetles from one area please sample them and send them to us. Many people already promised me to send beetles but many regions are still missing (see below).

A phylogeographic research compares samples from different regions and describe the genetic variance in order to explain local variations, subspecies and colonisations routes. You probably know this kind of studies from tree species where they looked to the colonisation since the last ice age. We are planning a similar study on Lucanus cervus. Given their association with dead wood, it would be interesting to compare phylogeographic patterns of these beetles with known phylogeography of trees in Europe. We would also like to include different subspecies or related species of L cervus in our study like akbesianus, turcicus and others to use as an outgroup. In order to have a representative sampling we should need at least 40 (ideal something like 100) sample regions from al parts of its distribution area. This should result in 1 or 2 sample regions for country’s like Holland, Austria and Greece and 4-6 sample regions for larger country’s like Spain, France or Poland. We would like to include especially samples from both sides of potential migration barriers like the Alps and Pyrenees.

It probably will be difficult to receive similar sample density from all parts of its distribution. Please let us know if you can provide us with samples from a certain country so we can focus our efforts on underrepresented areas. Currently we have no samples or promised samples from: Portugal, Swiss, Austria, former Yugoslavia, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, Moldavia, Belorussia (White Russia) and Baltic states.

Underrepresented regions: France, Eastern part of Germany, Greece, Turkey and presumably Russia Samples from all other countries and regions are still useful. >From each sample region we would need in the ideal case 5 to 10 specimen. For genetic analyses we can use: (1) freshly found dead beetles like road kills or predated beetles; (2) One leg removed from a living beetle (This probably doesn’t limit the beetles survival like proven for long living Carabus sp. by Gaublome et al. 2002); (3) collected beetles. Store every single beetle separately in pure ethanol (concentration as high as possible, no additives). Send us at least one leg or if possible the complete beetle (or a photo of the beetle) so we can include morphologic data (sex, antennal lobes, elytra colour,…) in our analyses. Provide us at least with the date of collecting, country and (nearest) town or coordinates of the sample location and your name and contact info. Currently we are testing if dried collection specimen and specimen stored for many years on ethanol denaturised with ether can be used as samples. We would be very grateful if you could provide us with any material, especially from remote areas or from subspecies. Please let us know if you know people who can provide us with samples from missing areas.

 

Please contact us for further information at  Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spam-Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spam-Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können

Samples can be send to:

• Research Institute of Nature and Forest
• Arno Thomaes
• Gaverstraat 4
• B-9500 Geraardsbergen Belgium