BRIG 22

19 July 2010

BAP priority species review

Southern oyster mushroom beetle (Triplax lacordairii)

For other BRIG papers and minutes of BRIG meetings visit
http:// www.jncc.gov.uk/page-5700

For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) visit
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-5155


BAP PRIORITY SPECIES REVIEW

Assessment form for non-marine invertebrates

Ref. no. (Office use)

/

KA-01

/

Date of submission

/

06/04/2010

Species’ name

Order and family

Checklist used /

Triplax lacordairii Southern oyster mushroom beetle

Coleoptera: Erotylidae

www.coleopterist.org.uk

Contributor’s name

Affiliation

Contact no./address /

Keith Alexander

Ancient Tree Forum

59 Sweetbrier Lane, Exeter EX1 3AQ – 01392 413092

Consultee(s)

Affiliation(s)

/
UK distribution /

Thames, Solent & Severn Basins – all England

Population size /

Very fragmented distribution, with small isolated populations

Current UK/GB status /

RDB3

Existing BAP priority /

Yes

/

No X

CRITERION 1

International threat

/

Global threat

/

Suitable old decaying host trees are being lost throughout the range

European threat

/

Suitable old decaying host trees are being lost throughout the range

Supporting/ additional information

/

EN Endangered in IUCN European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles 2010

CRITERION 2
International responsibility +
decline in UK
/

a) UK population

/

% of global pop.

/

High

/

% of Euro-

pean pop. /

High

Supporting/

additional information

/

UK has more ancient trees and ancient wood pasture/old growth habitat than any other NW Euro country, so high proportion of Euro population can be assumed

b) Decline

/

%

/

High

/

No. of yrs.

/ /

Dates

/

Supporting/

additional information

/

Continued loss of habitat must be eroding population very significantly; Severn Basin population appears extinct; Thames Basin population in severe decline – most recent records from Blean 1971 and Ham Street 1990; known from 17 hectads in England, but only 7 with records from 1975 to date – decline >50% & especially severe in Kent

CRITERION 3

Marked decline in UK

/ Decline /

%

/

High

/

No. of yrs.

/ /

Dates

/

Supporting/ additional information

/

Continued loss of habitat must be eroding population very significantly. See also 2b.

CRITERION 4

Other important factor(s) /

Large old trees are needed to produce suitable decaying wood for host fungi; host fungi – oyster mushrooms – are very edible and so host populations potentially being seriously reduced by forays

Data and informa-tion / Source(s) / UK literature and Invertebrate Site Register
Quality / Known from a range of old wood pasture/old growth sites across southern England; ecological knowledge very poor
Gaps / No information available on host tree/ oyster mushroom/ beetle relationships nor on impact of mushroom picking
Criteria satisfied / 1
2
3
4 / Yes X
Yes X Yes X Yes X / No No
No
No / Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Needs of species / Main requirements / Plentiful supply of old trees producing good fruiting of oyster mushroom on deadwood
Priority habitat(s) / Ancient wood pastures
Threats to species / Loss of old trees and deadwood; poor recruitment of new generations of suitable trees; mushroom picking; poor understanding of ecological relationships by managers and their advisers

Action

required / Review of existing data; survey of known sites and other likely places to determine continued presence, status and habitat structure associations; assessment of local impact of mushroom picking; liaison with site managers to develop conservation plans
Comment

1