Rabocerus foveolatus (Ljungh, 1823)

This species is generally very local and rare, it is widespread in central and northern Europe but the distribution is very disjunct, from the Pyrenees to Northern Italy and Hungary but beyond this only from Germany, UK, Poland and the Baltic countries where it reaches into northern provinces of Fennoscandia. The eastern extent of the range is probably parts of northern European Russia. In the UK it seems to have declined during the 20th century; it remains very local and rare in Southern England and Wales and was formerly known from Northern England and Ireland. The species is associated with dead and decaying wood of a wide range of deciduous trees, mostly in old-established and extensive woodland but also in ancient woodland relicts in parkland and pasture. Adults have been recorded throughout the year, mostly in early spring and autumn and only very occasionally at other times. Little is known of the biology but larvae have been found during the summer in Northern Europe and so it is likely that reproduction occurs in early spring. Both adults and larvae are predatory on subcortical insects and their early stages, and larvae have been recorded from the galleries of Dryocoetes alni (George, 1856) and Scolytus ratzeburgii Janson, 1856. Although recorded from a wide range of trees the species may have a preference for older specimens of alder (Alnus Mill.) in various stages of decay; adults hide under bark and among decaying wood and are active on the surface during the evening and at night.  There seem to be no records from sap but specimens have been recorded from both un-baited and alcohol-baited flight-interception traps in closed-canopy beech woodland in the French Pyrenees (Orlu Reserve, 1600-1750 m).