Ips sexdentatus

61. IPS SEXDENTATUS (BÖRNER, 1776)

Examined material: This species was recorded once, but the actual habitats and possible localities are unknown: Kaliningrad, 54°42´45.9´´N 20°29´16.9´´E, 01.IV.2009 (2 exx., under bark of the logs of old pine in a timber yard, leg. V.Alekseev). These specimens seem to have been accidentally introduced into Kaliningrad with timber.

Comments: This species is widely distributed in the whole Baltic and Fennoscandian region (Silfverberg 2004) and it has also been recorded from Belarus (Alexandrovitch et al. 1996). On the territory of the former East Prussia (Bercio & Folwaczny 1979) it has been reported from Wilkie [N from Kaliningrad city]. This beetle inhabits old pine trees and develops under their thick or transitional bark (Nikitsky et al. 1996) and could occur in north-eastern districts (Nemansky and Krasnoznamensky) of the region or along the Baltic Sea coast.

In conclusion, we would like to draw attention to the occurrence and presence of rare saproxylic beetles species in the transformed and anthropogenic habitats, such as deciduous parks, avenues and alleys of trees along roads. The set of the above-mentioned species (e.g. Abraeus granulum, Colydium filiforme, Eustrophus dermestoides, Allecula morio) and other rare species (such as e.g. Osmoderma barnabita Motschulsky, 1845 and Protaetia marmorata (Fabricius, 1792)) have been recorded in the Kaliningrad region only in old parks and abandoned gardens, at artificial forest edges and roads lined with broadleaved trees. Due to currently strong fragmentation of the mature broadleaved and mixed forests in the region, these beetles inhabit such artificial urban ecosystems: they have tolerance to synanthropization processes and are able to live in successful coexistence with humans and their activities under the obligatory condition of the preservation of old, dead and dried trees. The results of urban encroachment and road construction are not considered to be a major threat to the species at present.