One-fifth of Europe's wood beetles at risk of extinction as ancient trees decline

Demise of the beetles, that need rotting wood to survive, could have devastating knock-on effect for other species, say scientists in a new report

Almost one-fifth of Europe's wood beetles are at risk of extinction due to a widespread decline in ancient trees, according to a new report which suggests their demise could have devastating knock-on effects for other species.

The study says 18% of saproxylic beetles - which depend on dead and decaying wood for some of their lifecycle - now exist on a conservation plane between "vulnerable" and "critically endangered".