Creative Commons License 2021 Volume 8 Issue 2

Seasonal Dynamics of Carabus Coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758 “Coleoptera, Carabidae” Activity in the Areal’s Eastern Part


, ,
Abstract

Seasonal dynamics of the activity of Carabus coriaceus (Carabidae) imago was studied in the eastern part of the areal (in mixed and pine forests in Mordovia State Nature Reserve and National Park “Smolny”, Republic of Mordovia). Seasonal activity varied by year. It started from late April in 2018 and early May until mid-September and October. The peak number was recorded in the second half of July-August. In the warm spring of 2018, the timing of the start of activity was shifted to April, while in the cold spring of 2019, the ground beetle began activity only in early May. The catchability of C. coriaceus was higher within the territory of Mordovia State Nature Reserve comparing to the National Park “Smolny”. This may be due to the fact that Mordovia State Nature Reserve ecosystems have been protected for a longer time. In this protected area, anthropogenic activity ceased more than 80 years ago and the ecosystems have fully recovered.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Alekseev S, Ruchin A, Semishin G. Seasonal Dynamics of Carabus Coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758 “Coleoptera, Carabidae” Activity in the Areal’s Eastern Part. Entomol Appl Sci Lett. 2021;8(2):26-31. https://doi.org/10.51847/9Fb9BzKuoH
APA
Alekseev, S., Ruchin, A., & Semishin, G. (2021). Seasonal Dynamics of Carabus Coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758 “Coleoptera, Carabidae” Activity in the Areal’s Eastern Part. Entomology and Applied Science Letters, 8(2), 26-31. https://doi.org/10.51847/9Fb9BzKuoH

Seasonal Dynamics of Carabus Coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758 “Coleoptera, Carabidae” Activity in the Areal’s Eastern Part

Sergei Alekseev1, Alexander Ruchin2*, Gennady Semishin2

 

1Ecological club «Stenus», Kaluga, Kaluga region, Russia.

2Joint Directorate of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve and National Park «Smolny», Saransk, Republic of Mordovia, Russia.


ABSTRACT

Seasonal dynamics of the activity of Carabus coriaceus (Carabidae) imago was studied in the eastern part of the areal (in mixed and pine forests in Mordovia State Nature Reserve and National Park “Smolny”, Republic of Mordovia). Seasonal activity varied by year. It started from late April in 2018 and early May until mid-September and October. The peak number was recorded in the second half of July-August. In the warm spring of 2018, the timing of the start of activity was shifted to April, while in the cold spring of 2019, the ground beetle began activity only in early May. The catchability of C. coriaceus was higher within the territory of Mordovia State Nature Reserve comparing to the National Park “Smolny”. This may be due to the fact that Mordovia State Nature Reserve ecosystems have been protected for a longer time. In this protected area, anthropogenic activity ceased more than 80 years ago and the ecosystems have fully recovered.

Keywords: Carabidae, Imago, Carabus coriaceus, Mordovia state nature reserve, National park “Smolny”.


INTRODUCTION

 

Coleoptera, Carabidae are widely distributed from the Arctic and alpine tundras to seacoasts, deserts, and rainforests, and they may be common in these environmental conditions [1-4]. They play a significant role in biocenoses as entomophages that regulate the number of terrestrial invertebrates, and they are considered economically useful: both imago and larvae destroy some pests of forestry and agriculture, limiting their numbers [5-8]. Carabidae is a convenient model object for ecological and faunal studies. This family is used for zoological diagnostics of soils, zoogeographic characterization of biocenoses, and assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the biocenosis [9-14].

Carabus species are large, often colorful, well-recognized, and well-studied members of the Carabidae. They are usually polyphagous predators that consume various invertebrates [15-17]. Some of them are common for forests. But there are species that can be rare, especially in conditions of severe anthropogenic pressure [7, 18-20]. Carabus (Procrustes) coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758 is a very large species of ground beetle with larval or imaginal diapause. The life cycle lasts one year and it is recyclic with autumn reproduction or obligately two-year recyclic with late-summer or autumn reproduction [21]. Females lay their eggs in September. Most larvae overwinter in the first and second stages. The species has a two-year development cycle [22]. The species is widely distributed in Europe [6, 22-26]. In some places, it is considered rare and is included in the lists of protected species [27-30]. The main factors leading to a low population of the species are habitat degradation (deforestation), the use of pesticides, and the weak ability of the species to settle. Recently, the areal has been described in detail within central Russia [31]. The eastern border of the species’ areal passes through the Chuvash Republic and the Ulyanovsk region. The Republic of Mordovia is located close to the eastern border of the species’ areal [32, 33]. The objective of the present study was to investigate the seasonal dynamics of Carabus coriaceus activity in the eastern part of its areal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Republic of Mordovia is located in the center of the East European Plain between 42°11' and 46°45' East longitude and 53°38' and 55°11' North latitude. The Sura and Moksha Rivers (tributaries of the Volga and Oka Rivers, respectively) are the main rivers in the basin where the Republic of Mordovia is located. The territory of the republic is situated in the forest and forest-steppe zone of Central Russia. There are several small steppe areas within the territory. The eastern part of Mordovia is located in the northwest of the Volga Upland, and the western part in the Oka-Don lowland (Figure 1). In this regard, a variety of habitats is observed in the studied area. Boreal coniferous and mixed forests are common in the west, northwest, and north of the region [34]. Deciduous forests cover the central and eastern parts of the republic [12, 35]. Forest-steppe landscapes prevail in the east and south-east.

 

 

a)

b)

Figure 1. Study sites of C. coriaceus (shown with red dots).

 

 

The collection was carried out using pitfall traps in different regions of the Republic of Mordovia in 2018-2019. The distribution of ground beetles was studied during 2008-2020. The pitfall traps consisted of plastic cups with a volume of 0.5 liters with a 4% formalin solution poured into them. In order to study seasonal population dynamics, traps were placed in the forests of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve in four localities (Temnikov district of the Republic of Mordovia) and the National Park “Smolny” in three localities (Ichalki and Bolshoe Ignatovo districts of the Republic of Mordovia). In each locality, there were 10 traps (from the end of April to September), which were installed in one line with a distance between them of 2-3 m. The evaluation of accounting results was expressed in dynamic density (ex./100 trap-days).

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Republic of Mordovia is part of the range and is located close to the eastern border of the distribution of this species. The main biotopes of this species are forest edges, forest meadows, forest roads, and clearings in mixed and pine forests [33, 36]. Despite the fact that there are a lot of forests in the region, the findings of C. coriaceus are mainly confined to protected areas. In such conditions, the forest landscapes where C. coriaceus lives remain untouched.

Nevertheless, we note that the number of species in Mordovia State Nature Reserve was almost three times higher than the number of species from biotopes from the forests of National Park “Smolny”. The first protected area is protected for a longer time and all the landscapes have been untouched for more than 80 years. Ecosystems in the National Park “Smolny” have been protected for only 25 years, and before that, intensive forestry activities were carried out on this territory. It is possible that anthropogenic activity has caused some damage to the populations of C. coriaceus and they are now in the recovery stage.

The activity of ground beetles is influenced by several factors, including temperature, humidity, microclimatic conditions, etc. [37, 38]. The temperature has long been considered the most important abiotic factor affecting the activity of Carabidae [39, 40]. The seasonal and life-history fluctuations strongly influence the observed abundances and distributions of Carabidae in certain biotopes [1, 21, 41].

Seasonal activity of C. coriaceus began in late April-early May and lasted until mid-September – the first half of October (Figure 2). Only one peak of abundance was recorded, which occurred in the second half of July – August.

 

 

Figure 2. Dynamics of seasonal activity of Carabus coriaceus. The territory of Mordovia State Nature Reserve (1 – sq. 86; 2 – sq. 18; 3 – sq. 34; 4 – sq. 435) and the territory of National Park “Smolny” (5 – sq. 10; 6 – sq. 1; 7 – sq. 3). The relative abundance is indicated on the ordinate axis (ex./100 trap-days).

 

It is worth noting that in the relatively warm spring of 2018, the timing of the start of activity was shifted to April, while in the cold spring of 2019, the ground beetle began activity only in early May. However, subsequently, due to changes in the temperatures and cooling in the summer of 2018, the peak population was shifted to the beginning of August (Figure 2 and Graphs 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7). And vice versa, in 2019 (Figure 2 and Graphs 2 and 5) the peak population was recorded in the second half of July.

In contrast to our studies in Hungary, two peaks of the seasonal activity of C. coriaceus were recorded: in late June-July and late August-early September [3, 42]. Slovakia also had two peaks of activity that were weather-dependent [43]. In the forests of Slovenia, the first specimens were caught in late April, and the last – in early November. The species becomes abundant in late May, mid-July, and especially between late August and late October [44]. In Croatia, this species was most active in late summer and autumn, but a small peak of activity was also observed in spring [45]. Since activity, in addition to the features of the life cycle, is associated with the weather conditions, it is obvious that the corresponding changes in the catch rate over the years and during the season will always be ambiguous.

CONCLUSION

The seasonal activity of C. coriaceus in the eastern part of the range varied by year. It began in late April or early May and lasted till mid-September and October. At the same time, the peak number fell in the second half of July – August. The beginning of activity was influenced by the ambient temperature. Thus, in the warm spring of 2018, the start dates of activity were shifted to April, and in the cold spring of 2019, C. coriaceus began its activity only in early May. At the same time, the catchability of C. coriaceus was higher in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, in contrast to the National Park "Smolny". This may probably be due to the longer duration of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve ecosystem protection. In this protected area, anthropogenic activity ceased more than 80 years ago and the ecosystems have fully recovered.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: None

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: None

ETHICS STATEMENT: None


References

1.       Lövei GL, Sunderland KD. Ecology and behavior of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Annu Rev Entomol. 1996;41(1):231-56. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.41.010196.001311

2.       Bondarenko AS, Zamotajlov AS, Belyi AI, Khomitskiy EE. Fauna and ecological characteristics of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the Nature Sanctuaries «Prichernomorskiy» and «Tuapsinskiy» (Russia). Nat Conserv Res. 2020;5(3):66-85. doi:10.24189/ncr.2020.032

3.       Fülöp D, Bérces S, Szabó P, Samu F. Effects of abiotic factors on co-occurring Carabus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) species. Biologia. 2021;76(2):663-71. doi:10.2478/s11756-020-00593-w

4.       Ludwiczak E, Nietupski M, Kosewska A. Ground beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae) as an indicator of ongoing changes in forest habitats due to increased water retention. PeerJ. 2020;8:e9815. doi:10.7717/peerj.9815

5.       Pearce JL, Venier LA. The use of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and spiders (Araneae) as bioindicators of sustainable forest management: a review. Ecol Indic. 2006;6(4):780-93.

6.       Vladić ŽJ, Jelaska LŠ. Long term changes (1990–2016) in carabid beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in protected forests on Dinaric Karst on Mountain Risnjak, Croatia. Eur J Entomol. 2020;117:56-67. doi:10.14411/eje.2020.006

7.       Bondarenko AS, Zamotajlov AS, Shchurov VI. Contribution to biology and distribution studies on some ground beetles species (Coleoptera, Carabidae) registered in the Red Data Book of Krasnodarsky Krai. Nat Conserv Res. 2017;2(Suppl. 1):70-80. doi:10.24189/ncr.2017.005 [In Russian]

8.       Rozhnov VV, Lavrinenko IA, Razzhivin VY, Makarova OL, Lavrinenko OV, Anufriev VV, et al. Biodiversity revision of a large arctic region as a basis for its monitoring and protection under conditions of active economic development (Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug, Russia). Nat Conserv Res. 2019;4(2):1-28. doi:10.24189/ncr.2019.015 [In Russian]

9.       Magura T, Lövei GL. Consequences of urban living: urbanization and ground beetles. Curr Landsc Ecol Rep. 2021;6:9-21. doi:10.1007/s40823-020-00060-x

10.   Koivula M. Useful model organisms, indicators, or both? Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) reflecting environmental conditions. ZooKeys 2011;100:287-317. doi:10.3897/zookeys.100.1533

11.   Kirichenko-Babko M, Danko Y, Musz-Pomorksa A, Widomski MK, Babko R. The impact of climate variations on the structure of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) assemblage in forests and wetlands. Forests. 2020;11(10):1074. doi:10.3390/f11101074

12.   Ruchin AB, Alekseev SK, Khapugin AA. Post-fire fauna of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in forests of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia). Nat Conserv Res. 2019;4(Suppl.1):11-20. doi:10.24189/ncr.2019.009

13.   Zamotajlov AS, Serdyuk VY, Khomitskiy EE, Belyi AI. New data on distribution and biology of some rare ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in South Russia. Nat Conserv Res. 2019;4(4):81-90. doi:10.24189/ncr.2019.066 [In Russian].

14.   Khobrakova LT, Rudykh SG, Ulzii T, Gantigmaa Ch. Life cycle of ground beetle Chlaenius tristis reticulatus Motschulsky, 1844 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the condition of Western Transbaikalia. Far East Entomol. 2020;418:19-24. doi:10.25221/fee.418.4

15.   Carbonne B, Bohan DA, Petit S. Key carabid species drive spring weed seed predation of Viola arvensis. Biol Control. 2020;141:104148. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2019.10414

16.   Eötvös CB, Lövei GL, Magura T. Predation pressure on sentinel insect prey along a riverside urbanization gradient in Hungary. Insects. 2020;11(2):97. doi:10.3390/insects11020097

17.   Knapp M, Seidl M, Knappová J, Macek M, Saska P. Temporal changes in the spatial distribution of carabid beetles around arable field-woodlot boundaries. Sci Rep. 2019;9:8967. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-45378-7

18.   Ruchin AB, Egorov LV. Overview of insect species included in the Red Data Book of Russian Federation in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. Nat Conserv Res. 2017;2(Suppl.1):2-9. doi:10.24189/ncr.2017.016

19.   Ruchin AB, Khapugin AA. Red data book invertebrates in a protected area of European Russia. Acta Zool Academ Sci Hung. 2019;65(4):349-70. doi:10.17109/AZH.65.4.349.2019

20.   Cicort-Lucaciu AȘ. Road-killed ground beetles prove the presence of Carabus hungaricus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in North-Western Romania. Nat Conserv Res. 2020;5(3):134-8. doi:10.24189/ncr.2020.035

21.   Matalin AV. Life cycles of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the Western Palearctic: abstract. dis. Doctors biol. Sciences Moscow; 2011. 46 p. [In Russian]

22.   Minets ML. Seasonal activity dynamics of ground beetles of the genus Carabus L. (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the coniferous forests of Belarus. Vestn BGU. 2007;2(3):71-7. [In Russian]

23.   Riecken U, Raths U. Use of radio telemetry for studying dispersal and habitat use of Carabus coriaceus L. Ann Zool Fennici. 1996;33(1):109-16.

24.   Turin H, Penev L, Casale A. (eds.) The genus Carabus L. in Europe. A synthesis. Pensoft Publ., Sofia–Moscow–Leiden; 2003. 536 p.

25.   Andorko R, Kadar F. Carabid beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities in a woodland habitat in Hungary. Entomol Fenn. 2006;17(3):221-8.

26.   Teofilova T. Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from the region of Cape Emine (central Bulgarian Black Sea coast). Part II. Ecological parameters and community structure. ZooNotes. 2015;71:1-12.

27.   Red Data Book of Chuvashia Republic. Vol. 1. P. 2. Rare and endangered species of animals. Cheboksary: State Unitary Enterprise "IPC "Chuvashia"; 2010. 372 p. [In Russian]

28.   Red Data Book of Ryazan Region. Ryazan: Golos gubernii Publ; 2011. 626 p. [In Russian]

29.   Red Data Book of Nizhny Novgorod Region. Nizhny Novgorod: DEKOM Publ; 2014. 448 p. [In Russian]

30.   Red Data Book of Penza Region. Vol. 2. Animals. Penza; 2019. 264 p. [In Russian]

31.   Egorov LV, Podshivalina VN. Revisiting the area boundaries of Carabus coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758 in the European part of Russia. Acta Biol Univ Daugavp. 2020;20(1):39-45.

32.   Ruchin AB, Egorov LV, Alekseev SK. Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. Proc Mordov State Nat Reserve. 2015;14:157-91. [In Russian]

33.   Alekseev SK, Ruchin AB, Semishin GB. Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the marginal biotopes of National Park «Smolny». Proc Mordov State Nat Reserve. 2018;21:260-3. [In Russian]

34.   Ruchin AB, Egorov LV, Semishin GB. Fauna of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in the interfluve of Rivers Moksha and Sura, Republic of Mordovia, Russia. Biodiversitas. 2018;19(4):1352-65. doi:10.13057/biodiv/d190423

35.   Chursina MA, Ruchin AB. A checklist of Syrphidae (Diptera) from Mordovia, Russia. Halteres. 2018;9:57-73. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1255874

36.   Alekseev SK, Ruchin AB. Fauna and abundance of ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in pine forests. Entomol Appl Sci Lett. 2020;7(1):1-9.

37.   Kosewska A, Nijak K, Nietupski M, Kędzior R, Ludwiczak E. Effect of plant protection on assemblages of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in sugar beet crops in four-year rotation. Acta Zool Academ Sci Hung. 2020:66(Suppl.):49-68. doi:10.17109/AZH.66.Suppl.49.2020

38.   Perry KI, Herms DA. Dynamic Responses of ground-dwelling invertebrate communities to disturbance in forest ecosystems. Insects. 2019;10(3):61. doi:10.3390/insects10030061

39.   Skarbek CJ, Kobel-Lamparski A, Dormann CF. Trends in monthly abundance and species richness of carabids over 33 years at the Kaiserstuhl, southwest Germany. Basic Appl Ecol. 2021;50:107-18.

40.   Růžičková J, Veselý M. Movement activity and habitat use of Carabus ullrichii (Coleoptera: Carabidae): the forest edge as a mating site? Entomol Sci. 2018;21(1):76-83.

41.   Rainio J, Niemelä J. Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as bioindicators. Biodivers Conserv. 2003;12(3):487-506.

42.   Kádár F, Fazekas JP, Sárospataki M, Lövei GL. Seasonal dynamics, age structure and reproduction of four Carabus species (Coleoptera: Carabidae) living in forested landscapes in Hungary. Acta Zool Academ Sci Hung. 2015;61(1):57-72. doi:10.17109/AZH.61.1.57.2015

43.   Šiška B, Eliašová M, Kollár J. Carabus population response to drought in lowland oak hornbeam forest. Water. 2020;12(11):3284. doi:10.3390/w12113284

44.   Polak S. Cenoses and species phenology of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in three stages of vegetational succession in Upper Pivka Karst (Sw Slovenia). Acta Entomol Slovenica. 2004;12(1):57-72.

45.   Vujčič-Karlo S, Durbešič P. Ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) fauna of two oak woods with two different water balances. Acta Entomol Sloven. 2004;12(1):139-50.


Entomology and Applied Science Letters is an international double-blind peer reviewed publication which publishes scientific research & review articles related to insects that contain information of interest to a wider audience, e.g. papers bearing on the theoretical, genetic, agricultural, medical and biodiversity issues. Emphasis is also placed on the selection of comprehensive, revisionary or integrated systematics studies of broader biological or zoogeographical relevance. In addition to full-length research articles and reviews, the journal publishes interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, and Letters to the Editor. The journal publishes reports on all phases of medical entomology and medical acarology, including the systematics and biology of insects, acarines, and other arthropods of public health and veterinary significance.

Announcement and Advertisement
Announcements regarding scientific activities such as conferences, symposium, are published for free. Advertisements can be either published or placed on website as banners.

Publisher
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (IPS) , University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore Pakistan.
open access
Associations
Entomology and Applied Science Letters supports the submission of entomological papers that contain information of interest to a wider reader groups e. g. papers bearing on taxonomy, phylogeny, biodiversity, ecology, systematic, agriculture, morphology. The selection of comprehensive, revisionary or integrated systematics studies of broader biological or zoogeographical relevance is also important. Distinguished entomologists drawn from different parts of the world serve as honorary members of the Editorial Board. The journal encompasses all the varied aspects of entomological research.