This is very apparent wherever Dutch elm disease is prevalent. If the back of the bark is examined a maze of tiny galleries will be seen to be chiselled out by the bark beetle larvae. Also visible are the threads of the fungal mycelia. Many animals are unable to digest wood until it has been partially decomposed by a fungus and the subsequent stages of decay are characterised by a succession of different species. Dead wood, particularly the larger standing timber, is also valuable to many other forms of woodland life.
Many insects hibernate in holes in dead wood.
This wealth of insect life makes dead wood a favourite hunting ground for many woodland birds, particularly woodpeckers. The immense value of this resource is often neglected in woodland management, even in mature reserves, where dead wood is often tidied up and burnt. When trees fall down in old aged they open a gap in the forest for new plants to colonise. Woodlice are characteristic of damp places, and are especially common under rotting logs and loose bark. Here two species are shown.