Heavy metals in carabids (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) are one of the most studied soil groups in relation to heavy metal (HM) accumulation and use for bioindication of environmental pollution. Accumulation of Zn and Cu in carabid beetles was species-, sex- and trophic group-specific. No differences were found in HM contents between omnivorous and carnivorous species. The use of carabid beetles as indicators of HM accumulation appears to be rather limited.     

Effects of reduced pesticide dosages on carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in winter wheat

Abstract

• 1 The effects of reduced insecticide and herbicide dosages on total dry mass of carabids and their generic components were examined using fenced pitfall traps in winter wheat fields on three farms in Southern Zealand, Denmark.
• 2 The estimated total dry mass of carabids increased by 25% when the pesticides were reduced to one fourth of the normal application rates.
• 3 At reduced dosages, the activity of the genus Pterostichus was increased by 62%. The activities of Loricera and Demetrias were increased by 67% and 56%, respectively, although significant interaction terms indicated that the dosage effect was not uniform for these genera on all farms. Calathus tended to be more numerous with reduced pesticide applications. By contrast, catches of Bembidion, Synuchus and Trechus decreased by up to 45% at reduced dosages.
• 4 A higher weed cover due to reduced herbicide applications probably benefited most species, except those having habitat associations with sparse vegetation such as the field‐inhabiting Bembidion and Synuchus.
• 5 The higher activity of larger carabids may lead to enhanced predation on smaller carabids and hence different carabid assemblages.

     

A comparative study of the immigration of carabids (Coleoptera,Carabidae) into a new polder

Summary The immigration of carabids into the Lauwerszeepolder (constructed in 1969) was studied in 4 areas. These areas have different types of soil and consequently different vegetations. The carabid fauna was sampled by means of striptraps and window traps. In this way a total number of 116000 specimens was caught.A comparison of the catches shows great differences between the fauna in different study areas in successive years. The data are compared with those of another Dutch polder (IJsselmeer polder). It is shown that about 50% of all species caught are able to fly. Moreover it is demonstrated that relatively more specimens of sparse populations than of dense populations fly.The data, especially those on ovarian development, show that flight occurs mostly in early adult life. Moreover, flight muscle autolysis at the onset of ovarian development is a common feature among carabids. Females fly more readily than males. Whereas the flight of most species covers only short distances, some species fly across the borders of their habitats. The data suggest five categories in carabids with respect to flight.Brachypterous carabids were very rarely found in the polder. It is suggested that changes in the numbers of macropterous specimens in carabid populations outside the polder proper are not due to dispersal.The role of migration in the stabilization of carabid populations is estimated to be very small.     

A faunistic review of carabids (Coleoptera,Carabidae) of the Barguzin Mt. Range (Northern Baikal Area)

The list of carabids from the Barguzin Mt. Range includes 132 species belonging to 29 genera of 17 tribes. Five new species endemic or subendemic to the Barguzin Mt. Range have been discovered. The carabid fauna of the Northern Baikal Area has a high percentage of species with wide distribution in the Palaearctic. The bulk of the fauna consists of species with Circumholarctic, Transpalaearctic, Euro-Siberian, Siberian, and Asian-American ranges. Sayano-Baikalian, Southern Siberian, Baikalian, and Transbaikalian species with local distribution are less numerous than the Mongolian, Kazakhstan, Amur, and Okhotian species. Lake Baikal and mountain ranges framing it form a meridional barrier for the distribution of some species.     

中国北方桃李间作对步甲群落组成和营养级结构的影响

【目的】由于桃树和李树在生态环境要求上很相似, 在生产实际中, 在中国很多地方存在桃李间作或邻作的现象。本研究将通过试验明确桃李间作对步甲营养级结构的影响以便更全面地评价桃李间作是否有利于害虫防治。【方法】2006和2007年的4 -10月, 在山西省临汾市郊, 通过陷阱法对3块桃李间作果园和3块单一桃园内的步甲进行抽样, 每块果园的面积约0.3 hm²。比较两类桃园内步甲物种丰富度。将6种优势步甲物种, 两两单一成虫个体组合放在玻璃瓶内, 放在桃树下, 统计步甲相互攻击后的伤亡情况, 比较各物种的相互攻击能力, 确定主要步甲所属的营养级。统计分析两类桃园步甲营养级结构的差异。【结果】桃李间作园和单作桃园调查到的步甲物种均为24种, 估测步甲物种数在两类果园的差异也不显著（P≥0.38）。6种优势步甲可以分为4个营养级： 大盗步甲Lesticus magnus （Motschulsky）为高级捕食者, 大锹步甲Scarites acutides Chaudoir为次级捕食者, 双斑青步甲Chlaenius bioculatus Chaudoir和躅步甲Calathus halensis （Schaller）为初级捕食者, 毛婪步甲Harpalus griseus （Panzer）和直隶婪步甲Harpalus tschiliensis Schauberger为植食者。各营养级步甲相对多度均是桃李间作果园大于单一桃园, 独立T检验结果表明, 植食者步甲相对多度差异达极显著水平（P≤0.002）; 而捕食者步甲相对多度, 除2006年初级捕食者步甲相对多度差异显著（P=0.013）外, 在调查的两年中其他捕食者营养级步甲相对多度差异均不显著（P≥0.085）。【结论】结果表明, 桃李间作对步甲群落的物种组成和丰富度没有影响, 但是对果园内各营养级步甲相对多度有影响, 其中, 对植食者营养级步甲相对多度影响显著, 而对捕食者营养级步甲相对多度影响多不显著。     

Activity patterns, diets and interspecific interactions of coexisting spring and autumn breeding carabids: Carabusyaconinus and Leptocarabus kumagaii (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Abstract. 1. Activity patterns, diets and interspecific interactions of two coexisting carabid beetles, Carabus yaconinus B. and Leptocarabus kumagaii K. et K., were studied in a lowland habitat in Japan.
2. Larvae of C. yaconinus appeared from May to October and fed on earthworms. Those of L. kumagaii appeared from October to the next May and fed on dipteran and lepidopteran larvae.
3. In the adult stages, feeding habits and daily activities of the two species were similar. The beetles fed mainly on earthworms and other animal materials, but various plant materials were also utilized.
4. Direct competition for food items was observed both intra- and interspecifically. Interspecific interactions occurred only in early summer, however, because of the difference in breeding seasons (i.e. spring for C. yaconinus and autumn for L. kumagaii).
5. The difference in seasonal life history patterns between these carabids is a possible mechanism of coexistence.     

Belowground carabid beetle diversity in the western Palaearctic - effects of history and climate on range-restricted taxa (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Broad-scale patterns of subterranean diversity are a fascinating but neglected part of biodiversity research. Carabid beetles adapted to belowground habitats form a particularly species-rich part of the subterranean fauna. We studied large-scale diversity patterns of these belowground carabids across the western Palaearctic and evaluated potential impacts of historical and contemporary environmental conditions on the distribution of these taxa, using available species richness and environmental data at country level. Regression modelling and variation partitioning showed a strong relationship between species richness and range in elevation. Potential effects of climatic variables, mainly those related to ambient energy input, were much weaker. We discuss the implications of this combination of effects, which suggests, concordant with the absence of subterranean carabids in northern and highest richness in southern Europe, a strong prevailing influence of historical processes on current richness distributions of these taxa. Previous studies did not provide clear indications for such an influence. In contrast to more mobile and widespread carabid beetles, dispersal limitation due to high adaptation of belowground carabids to subterranean habitats has probably hindered their re-colonization of former permafrost and glaciated regions. Hotspots of highest belowground diversity are located in regions with an assumed long-term stability of environmental conditions, correlating with patterns of other dispersal-limited taxa such as many endemic plants. Our study provides important new information in the discussion of potential determinants of the distinct geographic patterns of belowground diversity. Moreover, it contributes to a better understanding of range size related differences previously found in the distribution of diversity and environmental dependencies of widespread and range-restricted species within the highly diverse carabid beetles.     

Ground beetles of the Ukraine (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

A review of the ground beetles of the Ukrainian fauna is given. Almost 750 species from 117 genera of Carabidae are known to occur in the Ukraine. Approximately 450 species of ground beetles are registered in the Carpathian region. No less than 300 species of ground beetles are found in the forest zone. Approximately 400 species of Carabidae present in the forest-steppe zone are relatively similar in species composition to those in the forest territories. Some 450 species of Carabidae are inhabitants of the steppe zone. Representatives of many other regions of heterogeneous biotopes such as forest, semi desert, intrazonal, etc. can be found in the steppe areas. The fauna of Carabidae (ca. 100 species) of the lowlands of southern Ukraine (sandy biotopes), situated mostly in the Kherson region, is very peculiar. The fauna of the Crimean mountains contains about 300 species. Conservation measures for the Carabidae are discussed.     

Fossil carabids from Baltic amber -II - A new subgenus of Bembidion Latreille 1802 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Bembidiini)

Bembidion (Archaeophilochthus) christelae a new subgenus and species belonging to the tribe Bembidiini (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae) preserved in a piece of Baltic amber (Eocene) is described. A comparison with recent fauna is made, and paleobiology of the species is hypothetized.     

Influence of tree species and soil properties on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities

Although Carabidae is among the best-studied families of beetles in Europe from the faunistic point of view, there is still a lack of available information on the ecological requirements of the particular carabid species. The habitat preferences that determine the distribution of species are largely influenced by habitat structure and microclimate. In addition to other factors, these habitat parameters are influenced by the nature of the vegetation. Therefore, our study investigated the influence of tree species on carabid beetle communities. We conducted the research at 9 stands in the Borová Hora Arboretum (Zvolen, Central Slovakia). Each studied site represents a monoculture of one of nine tree species. At each site, some soil and leaf litter attributes (pH, conductivity, and content of H, C, N and P) were evaluated. Ground beetles were collected by pitfall trapping during the vegetation periods in 2008–2011. In total, 3012 individuals of 29 species were obtained. Significant differences in the total dynamic activity and species richness of the carabid beetle communities among the compared forest stands were revealed. The results of the research confirmed statistically significant relationships among 1) the soil conductivity and both the richness and Shannon diversity of the ground beetle communities, 2) the litter and soil N content and richness, the Shannon diversity and the species composition of the ground beetle communities. The Shannon diversity and richness were negatively related to the soil conductivity and positively related with the N content. Our research showed that dominant tree species indirectly influence diversity and composition of carabid communities via the soil properties.     

Chromosomal diversity and evolution in the ground beetle genus Bembidion and related taxa (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechitae)

Chromosome numbers and sex chromosome systems of 154 previously unstudied Bembidion species are described. The genus is nearly uniform: males of 176 of 205 species are 2n=22+XY. Karyotypes are presented for 30 species. There is some variation among species in size of Y and size of autosomes. Within most species autosomes are subequal in size, and metacentric or submetacentric. Subterminal secondary constrictions and B chromosomes are reported from several species.The supertribe Trechitae (Zolini + Trechini + Pogonini + Bembidiini) is hypothesized to be primitively male 2n=22+X or 24+X, and the ancestral Bembidion stock 2n=22+XY. Conclusions are based on the most parsimonious hypothesis of ancestral state given an inferred phylogeny of the group, rather than the widespread-is-primitive arguments used previously. Evolution within Bembidion away from the presumably-primitive 2n=22+XY is discussed. Six lineages have lost Y chromosomes; seven have undergone changes in autosome number. It is not known why such changes are so scarce, nor what particular rearrangements led to the observed diversity. Nonetheless, the cytogenetic data can be used to infer a monophyletic origin of groups possessing derived chromosome numbers or sex chromosomes, and to help resolve species limits.     

Habitat characteristics of grassland Pterostichus species (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Abstract.

• 1 Pterostichus species were sampled on ninety-two sites distributed throughout north-east England using pitfall trapping.
• 2 The incidence of each species was related to measured site environmental variables using logistic regression.
• 3 Four species groups were identified on the basis of size. The extent of overlap in habitat types between species in each group varied. Two large species overlapped considerably whilst the smaller species showed different responses to one or more environmental variable.
• 4 Possible causes of the differences in habitat overlap between Pterostichus species are discussed.

     

紫穗槐根瘤菌的分离与回接鉴定

采用YMA培养基对新鲜的紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa L.)根瘤提取物进行根瘤菌的分离培养,获得的菌落为圆形乳白色,表面凸起,直径0.4~0.5 cm,革兰反应阴性,显微观察显示为短杆状,分离菌株回接原宿主植物,同时接种于经60℃15 min水浴加热处理的紫穗槐种子,蛭石盆栽实验显示,接种此菌的紫穗槐植株都有结瘤,并与对照在结瘤数、瘤重、植株鲜重与干重间都有显著差异,实验证明所分离的菌株均为紫穗槐根瘤菌。     

Ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) phenology, diversity, and response to weed cover in a turfgrass ecosystem

Despite being fragmented and highly disturbed habitats, urban turfgrass ecosystems harbor a surprising diversity of arthropods. The suitability of turf as arthropod habitat, however, likely depends on the extent and types of pesticides and fertilizers used. For example, moderate levels of weed cover in low-input lawns may provide alternative food resources. We conducted a 2-yr field study to: 1) characterize the ground beetle (Carabidae) species assemblage in turfgrass, and 2) assess the direct and indirect effects of lawn management on carabid communities. Weed cover and beetle activity were compared among four lawn management programs: 1) consumer/garden center, 2) integrated pest management (IPM), 3) natural organic, and 4) no-input control. Nearly 5,000 carabid beetles across 17 species were collected with the predator Cyclotrachelus sodalis LeConte numerically dominating the trap catch (87% and 45% of individuals in 2005 and 2006, respectively). Populations of C. sodalis underwent a distinct peak in activity during the third week of June, whereas omnivorous and granivorous species tended to occur at far lower levels and were less variable over the season. We found no evidence for direct effects of lawn management on carabid species diversity; however, we detected an indirect effect mediated by variation in weed cover. Seed-feeding species were positively correlated with turf weeds early in 2006, whereas strictly predaceous species were not. Thus, turf management programs that lead to changes in plant species composition (i.e., herbicide regimes) may indirectly shape epigeal arthropod communities more strongly than the direct effects of insecticide use.     

The ground beetle fauna (Coleoptera,Carabidae) of Southeastern Altai

Long-term studies of the ground beetle fauna of Southeastern Altai (SEA) revealed 33 genera and 185 species; 3 and 15 species are reported for the first time from Russia and SEA, respectively. The following genera are the most diverse: Bembidion (47 species), Amara and Harpalus (21 each), Pterostichus (14), and Nebria (13). The subarid (35%) and boreal (32%) species prevail in the arealogical spectrum, while the mountain endemics comprise 13% of the fauna. The carabid fauna of SEA is heterogeneous in composition and differs significantly from that of the Western and Central Altai. The boreal mountain component mostly comprises tundra species with circum-boreal or circum-arctic ranges, while the subarid component (typical Mongolian together with Ancient Mediterranean species) forms more than one-half of the species diversity in the mountain basins. The species diversity increases from the nival mountain belt (15 species, predominantly Altai-Sayan endemics) to moss-lichen tundras (40, mostly boreal, species). The variety of habitats and constant hydrothermal regimes in the intrazonal valley communities determine high taxonomic diversity of Carabidae, including both tundra or meadow-steppe species typical of the region and some forest ones. Under the condition of moisture deficiency, many steppe species also concentrate in river floodplains.     

Model of succession in degraded areas based on carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Degraded areas constitute challenging tasks with respect to sustainable management of natural resources. Maintaining or even establishing certain successional stages seems to be particularly important. This paper presents a model of the succession in five different types of degraded areas in Poland based on changes in the carabid fauna. Mean Individual Biomass of Carabidae (MIB) was used as a numerical measure for the stage of succession. The run of succession differed clearly among the different types of degraded areas. Initial conditions (origin of soil and origin of vegetation) and landscape related aspects seem to be important with respect to these differences. As characteristic phases, a 'delay phase', an 'increase phase' and a 'stagnation phase' were identified. In general, the runs of succession could be described by four different parameters: (1) 'Initial degradation level', (2) 'delay', (3) 'increase rate' and (4) 'recovery level'. Applying the analytic solution of the logistic equation, characteristic values for the parameters were identified for each of the five area types. The model is of practical use, because it provides a possibility to compare the values of the parameters elaborated in different areas, to give hints for intervention and to provide prognoses about future succession in the areas. Furthermore, it is possible to transfer the model to other indicators of succession.     

New or interesting Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes) on Japanese chlaeniine beetles (Coleoptera,Carabidae)

Four species ofLaboulbenia were isolated from Japanese chlaeniines and are reported.Laboulbenia habui is described as a new species; it is possibly related toL. fasciculata. Laboulbenia habui is characterized by the proliferation and division of cell V, resulting in the formation of an obliquely superposed series of cells from which short, cylindrical cells arise in a double row, whereas there is a single row of cubical cells inL. fasciculata. Laboulbenia humilis is new for the Japanese mycoflora; antheridia of this fungus were observed for the first time; shape of the perithecial apex, persistent antheridia and the spore size suggest thatL. humilis is not closely related toL. exigua and its related taxa. ForL. proliferans andL. fasciculata, new chlaeniine hosts are listed and some supplemental notes are given.     

Life cycle and food availability indices in Notiophilus biguttatus (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Abstract.

• 1 Food demands of the predatory carabid Notiophilus biguttatus F. and their fulfilment were studied in the laboratory and field.
• 2 In the laboratory, larval consumption, growth, adult body size and egg production were established for different regimes of temperature and food, the springtail Orchesella cincta.
• 3 Temperature strongly influenced feeding rate of larvae and adults and consequently growth and oviposition rates. Accordingly, growth rate and ovi-position rate increased with prey supply.
• 4 Prey supply also had an effect on fat content, but the number of ripe eggs in the ovaries was related neither to temperature nor to prey supply.
• 5 Adult body size was affected by temperature during the larval period but more so by food supply.
• 6 Dissection of field fresh females showed them to bear eggs for the whole year, except in late winter/early spring and in July.
• 7 Fat content was low in spring and, from July on, high in summer and autumn. Survivorship during starvation differed widely between samples and seemed to be related to reproductive status rather than to fat content.
• 8 Samples of beetles and springtails from eleven pine plantations revealed for the beetles significant differences in fat content and body size, the latter ranging between the maximum and minimum value obtained in the laboratory.
• 9 Conclusions about food limitation based on body size and fat content were not corroborated by a relationship of these indices with springtail density.