Encouraging participation in the Citizien Science project Alpine longhorn beetle and stag beetle

As part of a natural history monitoring project by the Botanical-Zoological Society Liechtenstein-Sarganserland-Werdenberg (BZG) and the Office of Environment, an appeal was made to the public in May 2024 to report evidence of alpine longhorn beetles and stag beetles on the newly created website www.hirschkaefer.li for this purpose. As the present data evaluation shows, the project met with a great response and the two organizations would like to thank all participants for their valuable support.

A total of 275 observation reports from the public

According to the evaluation of the data (as at September 2024), 275 records were recorded on the website, 94% of which were made in June and July. In addition, the majority of the reports (81%) also included photographic evidence. This made it easier to check the data received and showed that, in addition to the two target species (221 records of the stag beetle and 41 records of the alpine longhorned beetle), 13 observations of the barred beetle were also reported. As this 2-3 cm species (also known as the dwarf stag beetle) has much smaller mandibles than a male stag beetle, it can easily be mistaken for a female stag beetle.

Stag beetle hotspot in the Vaduz and Triesen area

Almost half (49%) of all stag beetle observations come from the municipality of Vaduz and 28% and 11% respectively from the municipalities of Triesen and Balzers. Further individual records were made in Triesenberg, Schaan, Eschen, Gamprin, Schellenberg and Ruggell. All records of the Alpine longhorn beetle are in the Oberland. The number of animals found indicates that Liechtenstein has forest locations with natural age structures and a high proportion of old and dead wood.

Expansion of the website with additional species

Based on the positive experiences, the existing website is to be expanded next year to include further species that can be easily identified. The BZG and the Office of Environment hope that the interest in research to date will continue and invite the public to continue to actively participate in the project
Press contact:

Office of Environment
Oliver Müller and Olivier Nägele, Case Processing Nature and Landscape
T +423 236 64 09 and +423 236 64 02
[email protected] / [email protected]