Featured speciesText © K. Reißmann, T. Hörren, M. Stern, F. Bötzl and C. Benisch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.03.2017
Palmar festiva (L., 1758)
|
19 
|
The Cypress jewel beetle Palmar festiva belongs to the jewel beetles (family Buprestidae). The thermophilic species with Mediterranean distribution develops in juniper and was a rare species in Germany until a few years ago. It was known to occur localized on the southern Swabian Alb. Since 2003, P. festiva spreads quickly in the southern river Rhine valley. The new host is thuja, which is common in gardens as hedgerow. Depending on the severity of the infestation, the thuja dies off within 2-3 years. The successful change of hosts has turned the former rare species into a "pest". The current legal conservation status is being considered. (CB)
|
|
|
