i-Rosalia
The i-Rosalia project was born in 2021 from Emilia-Romagna Region and the creators of InNat project agreement's, with active participation of the beneficiaries of LIFE EREMITA project. Among these, the referring bodies of the campaign are the Delta Institute of Applied Ecology (on behalf of the Emilia-Romagna Region) and the Park Authority for Biodiversity - Western Emilia.
WHO are you? A budding scientist? A hiker? An amateur photographer? A voluntary ecological guard? A Scout? Or do you simply love outdoor walks and nature? If the answer to one of the previous questions is yes, you must participate as our "citizen scientist"!
WHAT do we ask you to send us one or more reports (who knows if you will be so lucky!) Of this insect, in case of a sighting. Just a photo with your mobile phone (or camera) indicating the geographical position, date and place of the report.
WHEN from now on, because a self-respecting research project never ends!
WHERE to participate is very simple: download the app for Android or iOS, or access the inNat platform online, and add your report. If you prefer a more traditional method, you can send an e-mail to citizen.science@regione.emilia-romagna.it attaching the image and the requested data.
WHY to expand the monitoring of this species in the Emilia-Romagna Region, since it is feared that in the Apennine and Emilian territory it is almost extinct, we are trying to involve as many citizens as possible. Your data will be added to those of our entomologists and researchers and will lead to an update of the presence of this splendid individual in our territory.
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How to identify the species:
Scientific name: Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758)Vulgar name: Cerambice del Faggio
Conservation status in the IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
Rosalia alpina is a medium to large-bodied beetle with a length between 20 and 38 mm. It has a peculiar blue-celestial color, with a pattern of black spots on the body (specifically on the prothorax and on the elytra - its wings). The antennae are very long with alternating black and blue segments.
Where: Rosalia alpina lives in the mature beech woods of the Apennines, colonizing dead wood, preferably senescent beech, occasionally on lime, maple and chestnut trees. Adults are active during the day, on sunny days and appear in summer, starting from the end of June. It can be found on beech trunks and also on piles of piled wood, where they blend very well with the bark.
More info on Rosalia alpina.
Follow us on our official page @Liferemita on facebook, to find out who, like you, wants to immerse themselves in the i-Rosalia Citizen Science campaign!
If you still have doubts, do not hesitate to write to us at: citizen.science@regione.emilia-romagna.it