Degerrörsbacken, Naturreservat

The open pastures of Degerrörsbacken are rich in plant and animal life. The area has been grazed for generations, which has benefited both orchids and wild bees. In order to preserve the area's natural values, the land must be kept open in the future.

Species-rich thanks to grazing

The open fields of Degerrörsbacken have a species-rich, grazed flora. If grazing ceases, the diversity of plants will soon be replaced by a few tall species. The area's calcareous soil further contributes to the species richness, for example many orchids benefit from the lime.

Valuable sandy habitats

The reserve's grazed dry meadows are excellent environments for sand-loving bees and other wasps. There is bare, sun-exposed sand and plenty of food in the form of nectar and pollen from all the herbs and flowering shrubs. The wasps dig tunnels in the sand where they lay their eggs. Near the eggs, they gather food for the larvae to eat when they hatch.

Dung beetles

The fascinating dung beetles also depend on open and sun-warmed sandy pastures. Like wild bees, they prepare a food source for their larvae, in the form of balls made from dung. The eggs are laid by the female in tunnels that she digs out from under a pile of droppings. The rare moonhorn beetle is one of the dung beetles of the area.

Beautiful parasite

In the ash trees around the parking lot, you may be lucky enough to find the Spanish fly, an exclusive species that, despite its name, is a beetle. The Spanish fly only lives in environments where there are wild bees. This is because the beetle's larvae eat both bee eggs and the food of car beetles. The beautiful shiny green beetle was highly sought after in the past, as it was used to make love potions!

Ancient remains

There is a burial ground from the Iron Age in the reserve. The field consists of twenty round and four rectangular stone circles, five irregular stone circles and a stone string. Thanks to the grazing, the remains are clearly visible!