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.     

Extracellular proteolytic enzymes of microscopic fungi from thermal springs of the Barguzin Valley (Northern Baikal region)

Production of extracellular proteolytic enzymes was studied in thermophilic fungi Paecelomyces variotii and Aspergillus carneus, isolated from thermal springs of the Barguzin Valley. Protease synthesis in these fungi requires protein in the ambient medium. The composition of the enzymes secreted by A. carneus depends on the kind of carbohydrate present in the medium. The proteinase of this fungus digests synthetic substrates and gelatin (optimum pH 7.7). It belongs to neutral serine proteases. Extracellular P. variotii proteases digest gelatin (optimum pH 9.7–10.4). According to inhibitor analysis data, they can be classified as alkaline metalloproteinases and serine proteinases.     

Extracellular proteolytic eyzymes of microscopic fungi from thermal springs of the Barguzin Valley (Northern Baikal region)

Production of extracellular proteolytic enzymes was studied in thermophilic fungi Paecelomyces variotii and Aspergillus carneus, isolated from thermal springs of the Barguzin Valley. Protease synthesis in these fungi requires protein in the ambient medium. The composition of the enzymes secreted by A. carneus depends on the kind of carbohydrate present in the medium. The proteinase of this fungus digests synthetic substrates and gelatin (optimum pH 7.7). It belongs to neutral serine proteases. Extracellular P. variotii proteases digests gelatin (optimum pH 9.7-10.4). According to inhibitor analysis data, they are assigned to alkaline metalloproteinases and serine proteinases.     

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.     

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.     

The butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera,Rhopalocera) of the Kungey Ala-Too Mt. Range (Northern Tien Shan)

The butterfly fauna of the Kungey Ala-Too Mt. Range comprises 181 species, among them 58 are identified for the first time. Zoogeographic analysis of this fauna showed that a complex of butterflies with wide ranges predominated, whereas representatives of the Central Asian ranges had a smaller portion by 20%. Nowadays, the Kungey Ala-Too is a bridge between the faunas of the Western Tien Shan (Alai) and Southern Siberia.     

Community structure of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) along an altitudinal gradient on Mt. Sobaeksan,Korea

We conducted this study to determine the diversity patterns, community structures, and seasonality of ground beetle assemblages along an altitudinal gradient (437–1420 m) on Mt. Sobaeksan, Korea. Ground beetles were collected by pitfall traps installed along an altitudinal gradient (437, 757, 1100, and 1420 m). A total of 32 species belonging to seven subfamilies were identified from 3259 collected ground beetles. The diversity pattern of the ground beetle assemblage according to altitude was neither monotonic decreased nor hump-shaped. However, subfamily assemblages and wing form diversity patterns differed according to altitude and may be correlated with altitude or some other environmental variables. The dominant species were Synuchus cycloderus (29.4%) and Eucarabus sternbergi sobaeksanensis (15.4%) and their seasonal activities according to altitude were similar. According to non-metric multidimensional scaling, ground beetles and altitudes could be divided into two distinct groups: a low altitude group (437–757 m) and a high altitude group (1100–1420 m). Some species were particularly abundant at high altitudes, such as Aulonocarabus koreanus kwonileeique and Poecilus nitidicollis, while others were highly abundant at low altitudes, such as Pterostichus audax, Pterostichus ishikawai, and Synuchus species.     

Taxon specific response of carabids (Coleoptera,Carabidae) and other soil invertebrate taxa on invasive plant Amorpha fruticosa in wetlands

False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.) is an invasive exotic plant introduced to Europe in the early eighteenth century. Its spread has been rapid, particularly in disturbed wetland habitats, where it forms dense impermeable monospecific stands and modifies habitat conditions. The impact of A. fruticosa on native plant communities has been well analyzed, however knowledge concerning the possible effects on soil invertebrates and particularly carabid beetles is completely lacking. This study analyzed the impact of an A. fruticosa invasion on carabid beetles and other soil invertebrates. Soil fauna was sampled by pitfall traps at natural habitats, initially colonized by A. fruticosa, and habitats largely invaded by A. fruticosa. In total 2,613 carabid beetles belonging to 50 species and 72,166 soil invertebrates were collected. The invasion of A. fruticosa strongly affected the carabid beetle species composition, which clearly differed between all studied sites. Widespread euritopic carabid beetle species showed positive responses to A. fruticosa invasion, while the activity density of open habitat species strongly declined. Mean individual biomass was significantly higher at invaded sites due to increased incidence of large carabids (genus Carabus Linné, 1758). Carabid beetle activity density and abundance of soil invertebrates were considerably higher at invaded sites than in natural sites. Conversely, the impact of A. fruticosa on carabid beetle species richness and diversity was less pronounced, most likely due to immigration from adjacent habitats. Changes in carabid beetle species composition and abundance of soil invertebrates were most likely due to changes in vegetation structure and microclimate. The results suggest that A. fruticosa invasion considerably affected carabid beetles, an insect group that is only indirectly related to plant composition. Therefore, severe future changes can be expected in invertebrate groups that are closely related to plant composition, since A. fruticosa cannot be completely removed from the habitat and covers relatively large areas.     

Taxonomic review of the Pterostichini and Loxandrini fauna of New Caledonia (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The generic-level taxa included in Pterostichini and Loxandrini from New Caledonia are reviewed and a key to genera and species provided. Two new genera are described, Paniestichus and Abacophrastus, with the following new species: Paniestichus subsolianus, Abacophrastus millei, Abacophrastus chapes, Abacophrastus carnifex, Abacophrastus hobbit, Abacophrastus megalops, Abacophrastus reflexus and Abacophrastus bellorum. Abacoleptus curtus new species, is described. Notonomus irideus and Notonomus savesi are moved to Prosopogmus. Four new species of Prosopogmus are described: Prosopogmus koghisensis, Prosopogmus lescheni, Prosopogmus fortis and Prosopogmus aoupiniensis. Homalosoma griseolum is moved to Sphodrosomus. Cerabilia is newly recorded from New Caledonia and the genus is moved from Platynini to Loxandrini and therefore is the first report of Loxandrini from New Caledonia. An apparent adventive from Australia, Darodilia, is newly reported from New Caledonia.     

C-banded chromosomes of the genus Bembidion Latr. (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The C-banding pattern of Bembidion punctulatum, B. varium, B. varicolor, B. ascedens, B. tibiale, B. ustulatum, B. decorum, and B. modestum are presented. All examined species have a symmetrical karyotype with meta- and submentacentric chromosomes and meioformula n=11+XY. All of them have an achiasmatic spermatogenesis in common. The present data confirm earlier studies indicating a considerable morphological and numerical stability of the Bembidiini karyotype. The C-banding showed the existence of heterochromatin in the paracentric regions of chromosomes, and also 2-3 intercalar C-positive segments were observed. The Y chromosome is entrely euchromatic. The C-banded karyotype of the analysed species in genus Bembidion has large heterochromatin segments on chromosomes, an exception in Coleoptera.     

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.

     

Taxonomic review of Cratocerus Dejean, 1829 (Coleoptera,Carabidae) with the description of six new species

A diagnosis of the South and Central American genus Cratocerus Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and a key to all species is provided. Eight species are recognized including six species that are newly described: Cratocerus sinesetosussp. n. from French Guiana and Peru; Cratocerus multisetosussp. n. from Costa Rica and Panama; Cratocerus tanyaesp. n. from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico; Cratocerus indupalmensissp. n. a species widely distributed throughout Central and South America; Cratocerus kavanaughisp. n. from French Guiana and Peru; and Cratocerus culpepperisp. n. from Peru. A lectotype for Cratocerus sulcatus Chaudoir is designated. Habitus images are provided along with illustrations and images of male genitalia, female genitalia, and diagnostic morphological characters.     

Parasitism of the larvae of some Carabidae (Coleoptera)

An account is given of the species and degree of parasitism by insect and nematode parasites from eight species of Carabidae collected in pitfall traps in arable fields.     

On the allozyme differentiation of Carabus punctatoauratus Germar (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The polytypic carabid Carabus punctatoauratus, which inhabits the northern chains of the middle and eastern Pyrenees, was investigated with respect to allozyme polymorphisms. Twenty-nine local populations distributed over nearly the entire range of the species were studied. Out of 18 enzymes tested, four were found to be polymorphic: aspartate aminotransferase-1 (AAT-1), an esterase (EST-X), gulcose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD). The total number of allozymes detected was 7 for AAT-1, 14 for EST-X, 13 for GPE and 7 for 6-PGD; in local populatins, the sum of the number of allozymes varied from 7 to 24. With a few exceptions, the genotype frequencies of the local populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrum. In two loci (Est-x and Gpi) an allele frequency gradient along the WNW-ESE axis of the range was detected. Moreover, several alleles with a discontinuous spatial change of frequency were found. The peripheral populations studied (from the Massif du Ganigou in the east and from the Massif du Midi de Bigorre in the west) were substantially differentiated. On the other hand, populations distributed over the large central region of the species exhibited similar sets of allozymes. Thus, in the central region, a congruence int he degree of morphological and biochemical differentiation has not been found. However, in several cases, local populations obviously belonging to the same metapopulation showed significant differentiations, which seem to be caused by genetic drift. It is concluded that, in Carabus punctatoauratus, allozyme differentiations among local populations are usually trasient phenomena, whichare levelled agina by metapopulation dynamics (‘drift levelling’).     

Description of the larva of Siagona (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The hitherto unknown larva of Siagona is described from a third instar specimen attributed to S.brunnipes Dejean. The unique features of this larva support the distinctiveness of the subfamily Siagoninae.     

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.     

Harpalus hospes ciscaucasicus Lutshn. (Coleoptera,Carabidae), a Ground Beetle Subspecies with a Widely Disjunctive Geographical Range

Entomological Review - Harpalus hospes Sturm, 1818 is a predominantly Eastern Mediterranean species with three parapatric subspecies connected by the populations with intermediate characteristics...     

Geographic variability of the life cycle in Pterostichus melanarius (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

In Pterostichus melanarius, the seasonal dynamics of activity is characterized by two peaks (in mid-June-early July and in late July-mid-August). In southwestern Moldova, these peaks were registered twenty days later than in Moscow Province. In both regions, larvae and adults hibernate. Both hibernated immature adults and adults that had already bred before wintering start reproduction simultaneously. In hibernated immature individuals, the average number of eggs per female constituted 1.5 times that in the postgenerative females. In the steppe zone, the total number of eggs laid by immature females was closed to that laid by previously bred females, while in the southern taiga zone, hibernated immature females laid a greater number of eggs. In the steppe zone, females of a new generation lay a somewhat lower number of eggs in comparison with hibernated immature females, whereas the total number of laid eggs is significantly higher. In the southern taiga zone, both the average number of laid eggs and their total number are equal in females of a new generation and hibernated immature females. In Moldova, the majority of individuals of a new generation breed in the current season, whereas in Moscow Prov., about half the individuals hibernate without breeding. Over the largest part of the range, the life cycle of P. melanarius combines the one-year development with hibernating larvae with two-year development with the hibernating immature and postgenerative adults. The two subpopulation groups, wintering at different phases of the ontogenesis, are totally isolated at the northern border of the range. Within each subpopulation., individuals are characterized by the biennial life cycle; as a result, the polyvariant character of the life cycle turns into the monovariant one. We suggest that such a life cycle should be designated as the compensatory monovariant cycle, and populations, in which it is realized, as byside populations (from the English “side by side”).     

On five species of the tribes Abacetini and Pterostichini (Coleoptera,Carabidae)

Metabacetus willi sp. n. (type locality: Indonesia, Central Java Province, Purworejo Regency, Kaligesing District, cave Seplawan near Donorejo) and Rhytiferonia beroni sp. n. (type locality: Papua New Guinea, West Sepik Province, Bonforok bil, Tifalmin, 1600 m) are described. Two new combinations: Poecilus (Ancholeus) campania (Andrewes, 1937), comb. n. of Feronia campania Andrewes, 1937, Aristochroa poecilma (Andrewes, 1937), comb. n. of Feronia poecilma Andrewes, 1937, and a new synonymy: Pterostichus (Oreophilus) podgoricensis B. Guéorguiev, 2013, syn. n. of Pterostichus (Oreophilus) flavofemoratus pinguis (Dejean, 1828), are proposed, too.