Chasing beetles like lucky charms

Like finding a jackpot – this is how we imagine the work of expert Dr. Alexander Dostal when he is chasing extremely rare beetles. The probability to detect them at the Zoo Vienna is luckily higher. He is looking for beetles like he would for lucky charms.

Surveying biodiversity, especially the abundance of very rare or endangered species, belong to the most important recommendations and strategies for biodiversity conservation in Austria. With the support of the Austrian Lotteries we were able to carry out one of our dearest projects – surveying native beetles on zoo grounds.

An evolutionary success story.

Beetles are with approximately 350.000 species worldwide by far the most diverse group of insects. In Austria, around 7.500 species are known. They occasionally differ quite remarkably in body composition, size, lifestyle, and habitat: the superb stag beetle feeds for example on oak sap, the ladybug chases greenflys and the vibrant metallic wood-boring beetle feeds on bark and leaves.

Naturally, the cost to record and to identify the high variation of beetle species is diverse and complex. The appropriate method for collection is chosen under consideration of the special conditions at the zoo and – needless to say – with least possible disturbance or impact on zoo animals and visitors. The sampling takes place on and in the ground, on trees and leaves and using light-traps at night.   

Some of the beetle species can be identified directly upon collection at the zoo with the naked eye, others must be placed under a microscope or even need to be forwarded to a designated expert on specific taxonomic groups for identification – thus, to find out which species of beetles utilize the zoo as a habitat is a truly challenging project.

Results of the beetle monitoring at Schönbrunn Zoo

At the end of 2022, we commissioned research on which of the approximately 8,000 native beetle species occur at Schönbrunn Zoo. Using various methods, such as funnel traps or light trap sheets, a whopping 450 beetle species were documented.
The findings include rare and strictly protected species such as the Rosalia longicorn, the Hermit beetle and the Golden-green oak jewel beetle. The discovery of the Golden-green oak jewel beetle is particularly noteworthy. As a very rare relict of primeval forests, it had previously only been documented in four different locations in Austria. Thanks to the monitoring, it was also discovered at Schönbrunn Zoo.
A high diversity of wood-dwelling beetles, including Stag beetles, was found in the forest near the Tirolerhof. This diversity is fostered by dead trees in the area that are deliberately preserved as habitats.
In order to maintain and improve suitable habitats for beetles, the results of the monitoring are incorporated into our gardening work. In private gardens, one can promote beetle diversity with piles of dead wood, “wild corners” and by avoiding pesticides.

Dr. Alexander Dostal, beetle expert
„A survey like this is only possible, because the zoo deliberately does not completely cut down many of the dead trees. These tree trunks are an important substrate for for hungry beetle larvae. These measures will continue to be necessary in the future in order to preserve the species here, some of which are rare.”

Kindly supported by the Austrian Lotteries