When a threatened species becomes a threat: a key to reading the Habitats Directive based on occurrence and distribution of Cerambyx cerdo L. in Mediterranean urban and peri-urban areas

Cerambyx cerdo is a large saproxylic species included in the Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive as a ‘priority species’. Although C. cerdo populations have shown a significant decline in size and distribution in central and northern European forests, in the Mediterranean basin it is often considered as a pest in urban and peri-urban areas. Based on European legislations currently in use, we propose a simplified decision-making flowchart that should be followed regarding the adoption of different control measures against severe C. cerdo infestations.