Insect Fact Sheets

Ants (Formicidae)

Habitat

Ants are found in almost all regions and climates worldwide, from the tropics, through temperate zones, to subarctic regions. So far, 13,000 species have been described globally, with 200 species occurring in Europe. Fossil findings suggest the group is about 130 million years old.

Behavior

Most ant species live in colonies, similar to honeybees, which can consist of several million individuals. In most species, the sexually mature females and males have wings. The males die shortly after mating, while the females establish new colonies as queens or live in existing colonies alongside other queens.

Ant species differ in their behaviors. Some are hunters and gatherers, while others “farm” fungi in their nests for harvesting. Regardless of their specific behaviour, ants significantly impact their environment by breaking down animal and plant material, redistributing soil layers, spreading plant seeds, or regulating other species through predation.

Conservation Status

Sixty percent of ant species in Germany are endangered. These are mostly species adapted to specific niches or with unique lifestyles. Since ants are tied to specific habitats, changes to their environment—such as reforestation, intensified agriculture, or land abandonment—can lead to local extinction. Conservation typically involves preserving or restoring habitats. Some ant species are very adaptable, and their populations can recover quickly when proper conservation measures are taken.


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Hazelnut Weevil (Curculio nucum)

Family

Weevils

Appearance

A small, brown-gray-white scaled beetle. The hazelnut weevil has a long snout on its head, with antennae attached halfway along the snout.

Habitat

This species is widespread, especially in Central Europe. The beetle can be found from lowlands to mountainous regions.

Special Features

In spring, hazelnut weevils can be found on various fruit trees, such as cherries or pears, feeding on young fruits. Later in the year, they move to hazelnut trees. Females lay their eggs in the nuts, and the larvae feed on the nut's interior for about four weeks. Afterward, the larvae leave the nuts and overwinter in the soil. Pupation occurs the following spring, and new adults emerge in the summer. The pupal stage can last up to three years in some cases.


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Sources

  • Hazelnut Weevil, Wikipedia (German) (21.07.2021)
  • Dierl, W. (2001). Which Beetle Is This? The Most Common Species of Central Europe (2nd edition). (German) Kosmos

Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae)

General Information

With 47,000 described species, rove beetles belong to one of the largest families within the order of beetles(Coleoptera), with 1,554 species identified in Germany.

Habitat

Rove beetles are found in many ecosystems worldwide as part of the humus and leaf litter layers. They can inhabit harsh environments, such as high altitudes, deserts, or near the poles. They also thrive in salty areas near coasts, around bodies of water, and in deep soil layers. Most species are good fliers, but some species that live in deep soil have underdeveloped eyes and wings. Smaller species are typically active during the day, while larger ones tend to forage at night. Most rove beetles are predators, but some feed on fungi, decaying plant matter, or dead animals. Some species live in the nests of social insects like ants or wasps, feeding on their larvae or being fed and cared for by the host species.

Conservation Status

Some species are horticultural pests that affect strawberries and fruit trees. However, they are also beneficial, reducing forest pests like bark beetles and contributing to the decomposition of leaf litter and humus, thus aiding in the release of plant nutrients. Due to their specialization in small habitats, changes in habitat quality or destruction can lead to the extinction of entire populations. Forty-three percent of rove beetle species are endangered, and some are already considered extinct.


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Ground Beetles (Carabidae)

General Information

With over 40,000 species, ground beetles form one of the most diverse families in the beetle order (Coleoptera). They are found worldwide, except in Antarctica, with approximately 760 species known in temperate regions.

Habitat

Most species live on the ground, with their larvae also inhabiting soil or leaf litter. Some species climb plants, live under tree bark, or inhabit small burrows in the soil.

Behavior

Most ground beetles have wings, allowing them to disperse. However, some species have reduced hindwings but can still move several meters per day. Most species are nocturnal, though some adapt to weather conditions. Ground beetles can live up to four years. Depending on the species, they feed on plant material, nectar, and flowers, or prey on snails and small insects, such as ants or springtails. Only a few species are considered pests. The exact ecological function of ground beetles is not fully understood, but their abundance in various habitats suggests they play a significant ecological role.

Conservation Status

Some ground beetle species are highly specialized to specific niches. Habitat destruction can lead to the extinction of these species, and several are listed as critically endangered or even extinct in certain regions.

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Spiders (Araneae)

General Information

When we talk about “spiders,” we usually mean the order of web-building spiders (Araneae), which belong to the class arachnids (Arachnida). Arachnids are characterized by having eight legs, distinguishing them from insects with six legs. Other arachnids include ticks, which belong to the order mites (Acari).

Habitat

With approximately 42,000 species, spiders are found in diverse habitats worldwide. They are most abundant in warm regions, where they also grow the largest. In Central Europe, there are 43 species of true web spiders. Due to their ability to reduce their metabolism during times of food scarcity and their effective predation strategies, spiders are among the most successful primary colonizers. This means they can survive in devastated environments following events like volcanic eruptions or floods, even before other vegetation or fauna have established.

Behavior

In temperate regions, spiders primarily feed on insects, though some species eat other spiders, and a few even consume carrion. Some spiders catch their prey using classic spun webs, while others hunt by running or jumping. Depending on the species and environmental conditions, female spiders can live for several years, while males are usually much smaller and are often eaten by females after mating, resulting in much shorter lifespans for males.

Conservation Status

Most spiders lead unobtrusive lives, but research shows they are sensitive to environmental changes, making them valuable indicators of habitat quality. Spiders are an essential food source for birds, bats, reptiles, and some insects. They are also important predators themselves and can be beneficial in homes by catching mosquitoes and flies.

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Dagger Flies(Empididae)

Family

Dagger Flies (Dance Flies)

Appearance

Dagger flies are small, inconspicuous flies, often with well-developed compound eyes. Their dagger-like snouts are used to pierce and suck the body fluids of prey. They also have long legs, with the front pair often modified for grasping prey.

Habitat

Dagger flies are mainly native to Northern Europe. They are commonly found in gardens, meadows, and forests.

Special Features

These small flies primarily feed on flying insects, which they catch in mid-air. It is not uncommon for them to capture prey much larger than themselves. Cannibalism is also possible in this species. The courtship behavior of dagger flies is interesting; males always bring the female a courtship “gift,” typically an insect they have pierced with their snout. While mating, the female feeds on this gift.

Sources

  • Dance Flies - Wikipedia (German) (21.07.2021)
  • Plant Knowledge: Dance Fly – Airborne Raver, Neudorff (German) (21.07.2021)
  • Empididae - Wikipedia [English] (08.09.2024)

White Spotted Rose Beetle (Oxythyrea funesta)

Family

Scarabs

Habitat

These beetles are primarily found in warm regions such as the Mediterranean and North Africa. It is suspected that, due to climate change, their range is expanding into Southwest Germany, where they live on the edges of forests or in flower-rich meadows.

Appearance

The White Spotted Rose Beetle is a small, black beetle with white spots on its elytra and pronotum, measuring 8-12 mm in length.

Special Features

When wet, the white spots on the beetle disappear. The beetle must be dried before identification is possible.


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Wild Bees (Apoidea)

General Information

The term “wild bees” refers to all bee species within the superfamily Apoidea, excluding the domesticated honeybee. Wild bees vary greatly in appearance, with most species being hairy, though some are completely hairless.

Habitat

There are more than 30,000 wild bee species worldwide, with about 585 species recorded in Germany, depending on the source. Wild bees inhabit both natural areas and urban environments and are considered valuable pollinators. They start pollinating as early as March and can continue even in challenging weather conditions. This makes them essential contributors to pollination, including in commercial agriculture.

Behavior

Unlike honeybees, most wild bee species are solitary, meaning they build their nests and brood chambers without assistance from others. Exceptions include species like bumblebees, which live in colonies and exhibit brood care similar to honeybees. Wild bees feed on nectar for energy and collect pollen primarily for their offspring. Many wild bee species depend on the pollen of specific plant families or species to rear their young.

Conservation Status

In Germany, 50% of wild bee species are on the "Red List," with 26 species classified as "critically endangered." In addition to agricultural landscapes, urban habitats are also at risk due to increasing land sealing and the loss of structural elements like small gardens and fallow lands. This is further exacerbated by reduced food availability due to monocultures and uniform planting. Initiatives like wild bee hotels, special flower mixes, and the creation of micro-habitats such as dry stone walls or deadwood aim to counteract the dramatic decline in wild bee populations.

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