Floodplain forest along the Drava

The natural Drava region is made up of frequently flooded willow, alder, and ash forests. The groundwater level has dropped due to the regulation of the Drava River and its tributaries. Because parts of the arch dried up, some animals and plants became extinct.

"Clock clock," hi, I'm a ground beetle, I’m the swamp beetle.

Unlike other beetles, I have the luxury of walking and hunting along stream bottoms or marshes. There are usually enough aquatic insect, crab, and tadpole larvae.

Of course, I can breathe underwater, which ordinary beetles cannot do. I keep an air bladder under my lids and breathe through it. That way I can stay underwater for an extended period of time. When the air supply is depleted, I rush to the surface in search of another bubble.

Of course, I require water in order to live a normal life. It is difficult for us during dry periods, especially for our young beetles in the development stage.

What can be done to preserve and improve the habitat of the ground beetle?

• Leave some of the dead trees in the forest,

• do not cut down trees along the banks of watercourses,

• do not throw wood residues into forest streams,

• do not build roads and wood transport trails in the streams,

• preserve floodplain forest areas, do not dry them out,

• do not pollute streams, swamps and rivers.