LIME BARK BEETLE

(ERNOPORUS TILIAE [PANZER])

ACTION PLAN

Compiled by The Wildlife Trust

This plan is based on the national action plan, and in conjunction with its author, Tony Drane.

Lead Agencies Public Sector English Nature

Voluntary Sector The Wildlife Trust

1 INTRODUCTION

Lime Bark Beetle is specific in the UK to Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata). The current distribution would seem to indicate a preference for old woodland, particularly coppice. The Lime Bark Beetle colonises moribund coppice poles or suitably sized dieback branches in the high canopy. The beetle requires timber with relatively thin bark (1 – 2mm). It also requires the timber to be in an early stage of senescence so there is still some sap left in the cambium layer, into which the beetle burrows its galleries. However, it can remain in quite dry poles and branches once colonisation has taken place. Desiccation and waterlogging will render the timber uninhabitable. Damage and/or fungal attack of suitable sized timber produces a chemical attractant, which may allow the beetle to find potentially exploitable areas of habitat. The correct coppice regime, one that allows for maturity of some stands of Small-leaved Lime, creates suitable conditions for colonisation, in that there is a constant source of appropriately sized timber.

2 CURRENT STATUS

2.1 International / National Status

In Britain, Lime Bark Beetle was granted Red Data Book 3, Shirt (1987), which Hyman (1992) up-graded to RDB1 owing to the scarcity of modern records. Researches by Drane (unpublished thesis, 1997) indicate that the beetle may indeed be nationally scarce, and should therefore retain the latter status until detailed recording dictates otherwise. The current (2001-02) national survey in to the distribution and status of Lime Bark Beetle may require that minor revisions are made to this plan, though it is unlikely to provide many (if any) new Northamptonshire sites.

2.2 Local Status

Post-1990 records confirm a continuing occurrence of Lime Bark Beetle at Easton Hornstocks, the only known site in the county. The beetle is included in Northamptonshire’s Red Data Book.

3 CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE

· The loss of old woodlands in general and a lack of any significant re-establishment of Small-leaved Lime woodlands, especially in those areas where there have been losses of such habitat.

· The long-term decline in coppicing as a regular management practice.

· Over-conscientious removal of fallen and moribund timber. There is evidence of populations developing where brash is left in situ (Easton Hornstocks, Northants) and where old poles are not removed from coppice stools.

4 CURRENT ACTION

· Large-scale re-introduction of coppicing regimes in old woodlands, particularly on SSSI sites and nature reserves. The re-introduced coppicing regime at Collyweston Great Wood (which includes Easton Hornstocks) National Nature Reserve is favouring the maintenance and expansion of colonies of Lime Bark Beetle.

· Increased awareness of the importance of deadwood as a habitat for invertebrates in general. This has led to retention of dead and fallen timber.

5. LIME BARK BEETLE OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

	Objective	Action	Lead Agency	Partners	TargetS
5.1	Policy and Legislation
	Objective One: Ensure the species is included on site objective and management statements for all relevant SSSIs	Include a species objective for Easton Hornstocks SSSI and other sites found to support Lime Bark Beetle	English Nature		By 2001
	Objective Two: Include the requirements for the species when preparing or revising prescriptions for the Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS)	Consider species requirements in management prescriptions for WGS agreements	Forestry Commission	English Nature	By 2002
	Objective Three: Ensure that BAP species (including Lime Bark Beetle) and their habitats are given an appropriate level of protection in local plans	Include species protection policies in local plans and/or supplementary guidance	Local Authorities		By 2003
5.2	Site Safeguard and Management
	Objective Four: Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed, including the retention of deadwood	Encourage land managers to consider the requirements of the Lime Bark Beetle when defining the management objectives for their woodlands	English Nature	Wildlife Trust, County Recorder/s	Throughout Plan Period
	Objective Five: Notifying as SSSI’s, any sites possessing populations of this species	Inform English Nature when new populations are identified	Wildlife Trust	County Recorder/s	Throughout Plan Period
		Notify identified sites as SSSI	English Nature		Throughout Plan Period
	Objective Six: Increase the area of lime coppice	Encourage the reversion of plantation back to mixed broadleaf in appropriate areas	Forestry Commission	Woodland conservation advisors	Throughout Plan Period
		Establish new areas of Small-leaved Lime coppice	Forestry Commission	Woodland conservation advisors	Throughout Plan Period
5.3	Advisory
	Objective Seven: Draw-up appropriate information leaflets for woodland managers and advisors and provide advice where requested		Wildlife Trust	English Nature Forest Enterprise	By 2003
5.4	Future Monitoring and Research
	Objective Eight: Undertake surveys to determine the status of the species within the county	Undertake surveys of existing and suitable sites	County Recorder/s	Wildlife Trust, English Nature	Initial survey completed by 2003
		Establish monitoring programmes where the beetle occurs in the county	County Recorder/s	Wildlife Trust, English Nature	Commencing 2002
5.5	Communications and Publicity
	Objective Nine: Promote opportunities for appreciation of this species and the conservation issues associated with its habitat	Publish scientific papers and popular articles on the ecology and management of this species and its habitat based on research and monitoring in the county	County Recorder/s	Wildlife Trust, English Nature	Throughout the Plan Period
5.6	Review
	Objective Ten: Review the plan to assess progress, and where necessary update and amend			BAP Partners	2005

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