Foto: Sławomir Mrozek

Hermit beetle (Osmoderma hermit)

The characteristic feature of this species is its fragrance that is secretd by males. It is a very intense pheromone, palpable even for us. The scent is reminiscent of dried apricots or plums. Hermit is a large beetle that grows up to 4 cm long. It has a small head compared with huge wing lids of olive-metallic luster. It lives in old, hollow trees growing in sunny spots. It is a cariophage which means that it feeds on dead wood, initially decomposed by fungi. In the digestion of this hardly digestible food it is helped by microbes colonizing its digestive tract. In the hermit’s development there is both the phase of a larva, the so called grub, and that of a chrysalis. The adult leads a very secret life. Most often it stays in tree hollows or in their vicinity. It flies heavily beating short distances. The hermit emits a distinctly audible whirr. As a result of the removal of decaying and dying trees the population of hermits has significantly decreased. This insect is on the list of endangered species and is included in the Natura 2000 habitat conservation programme. Let us remember that the restoration of the habitat hermits, i.e. trees with hollows, will last at least 50 years.