Journal articles on the topic 'Pterostichus niger'

The effects of pirimiphos-methyl have previously been assessed on blood-sucking insect species, pollinating insects, and target crop pest species. The sensitivity of non-target zoophagous and saprophage species to this insecticide remains largely unstudied. In laboratory conditions, we assessed the susceptibility of 43 species of invertebrates to pirimiphos-methyl. The most tolerant species to this insecticide were Pyrrhocoris apterus (LC50 measured over 60 mg/m2), Cylindroiulus truncorum, Pterostichus niger, Harpalus rufipes, Lithobius forficatus, and Carabus hortensis (LC50 ranged from 25 to 50 mg/m2). Average tolerance to pirimiphos-methyl was displayed by Ophonus rufibarbis, Teuchestes fossor, Silpha carinata, Badister sodalis, Rugilus rufipes, Phosphuga atrata, Porcellio laevis, Pterostichus oblongopunctatus, Aphodius foetens, Lasius fuliginosus, Oxypselaphus obscurus, Platydracus fulvipes, Myrmica ruginodis, Xantholinus tricolor, and Megaphyllum sp. (LC50 for those species ranged from 12 to 24 mg/m2). Higher sensitivity to this insecticide was seen for Amara nitida, Leistus ferrugineus, Harpalus xanthopus winkleri, Philonthus nitidus, Pterostichus melanarius, Harpalus latus, Limodromus assimilis, Philonthus decorus, Tachinus signatus, Ponera coarctata, Carabus convexus, Philonthus coprophilus, Philonthus laevicollis, Platydracus latebricola, Labia minor, and Carabus granulatus (LC50 for those species ranged from 6 to 12 mg/m2). The greatest sensitivity to pirimiphos-methyl was observed in Hister fenestus, Drusilla canaliculata, Bisnius fimetarius, Oxytelus sculptus, Lasius niger, and Lasius flavus (LC50 ranged from 0.4 to 6 mg/m2). We found a relationship between the parameters of bodies of invertebrates (the average body length and dry body mass) and sensitivity to pirimiphos-methyl. With an increase in body sizes of invertebrates, the tolerance to the insecticide increased (per each mm of body length, LC50 increased by 0.82 mg/m2 on average). We identified no relationship between the trophic specialization and sensitivity to the insecticide.

This paper describes research into species of beetles (Coleoptera), which was carried out in one of the largest systems of old mine workings in Europe (Podziemia Tarnog&oacute;rsko-Bytomskie) near Tarnowskie G&oacute;ry and Bytom. A one-year survey yielded three species of beetles: <em>Choleva glauca</em>, <em>Pterostichus niger</em> and <em>Quedius mesomelinus</em>. Each species occurred only at particular times of the year, possibly signifying the beginning of the troglobiont way of life.

AbstractArion lusitanicus has become a major pest species in western Norway in the last few years. This species originates from southern Europe but has been spread by humans over large parts of central and northern Europe during recent decades. Slugs have traditionally been controlled by the use of molluscicides; but, as these may have serious ecological side effects, biological control of slugs is highly desirable. Potential biological control agents include nematodes, gastropods and arthropods. In laboratory experiments, we tested whether five common predator beetles would feed on eggs and juveniles of A. lusitanicus. The species Carabus nemoralis, Nebria brevicollis, Pterostichus melanarius and Pterostichus niger (Carabidae) as well as Staphylinus erythropterus (Staphylinidae) were tested, of which only P. melanarius has been tested on A. lusitanicus previously. Nebria brevicollis did not feed on slug eggs or newly hatched slugs, but the remaining four species all killed and ate a large proportion of the eggs and hatchlings offered. Both P. melanarius and P. niger also destroyed A. lusitanicus eggs and hatchlings under conditions emulating those in the field. Prey size choice experiments were conducted by feeding C. nemoralis, P. niger and S. erythropterus on different sizes of A. lusitanicus. Carabus nemoralis was also given a choice between two slug species, A. lusitanicus and Deroceras reticulatum. A significant preference for slugs smaller than one gram was evident for C. nemoralis, while the other beetles struggled much more to overcome the mucus of juvenile slugs. No significant preference was found between A. lusitanicus and D. reticulatum as prey for C. nemoralis. We also discuss the feasibility of biological control of A. lusitanicus using beetle predators.

During the years 1993–2001 the monitoring of the soil surface invertebrates was carried out in the flood- plain forest in the Ranšpurk National Nature Reserve (Southern Moravia). The dynamics of carabid beetles is described in detail in this paper. A total of 8 529 individuals belonging to 67 carabid species was collected. The most abundant species were Pterostichus niger (Schaller, 1783), Nebria brevicollis (Fabricius, 1792), Carabus ullrichi Germar, 1824, Carabus violaceus Linnaeus, 1758, Abax carinatus (Duftschmid, 1812), Patrobus atrorufus (Stroem, 1768), Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger, 1798), Carabus granulatus Linnaeus, 1758, Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758), Bembidion mannerheimi C. R. Sahlberg, 1827 and Epaphius secalis (Paykull, 1790). During the years 1993–1996 the species composi- tion indicated especially the drainage of the locality. In July 1997, a disastrous flood affected all groups of invertebrates, including the carabids. The abundance of hygrophilous species increased extremely during the years after the flood. The summer flood showed that the submersion of the soil surface had higher impact on carabid taxocenoses than flooding by system of canals.

(1) Background: Protected areas are “hotspots” of biodiversity in many countries. In such areas, ecological systems are preserved in their natural state, which allows them to protect animal populations. In several protected areas, the Coleoptera biodiversity is studied as an integral part of the ecological monitoring of the ecosystem state. This study was aimed to describe the Carabidae fauna in one of the largest protected areas of European Russia, namely National Park “Smolny”. (2) Methods: The study was conducted in April–September 2008, 2009, 2017–2021. A variety of ways was used to collect beetles (by hand, caught in light traps, pitfall traps, and others). Seasonal dynamics of the beetle abundance were studied in various biotopes. Coordinates were fixed for each observation. (3) Results: The dataset contains 1994 occurrences. In total, 32,464 specimens of Carabidae have been studied. The dataset contains information about 131 species of Carabidae beetles. In this study, we have not found two species (Carabus estreicheri and Calathus ambiguus), previously reported in the fauna of National Park “Smolny”. (4) Conclusions: The Carabidae diversity in the National Park “Smolny” is represented by 133 species from 10 subfamilies. Ten species (Carabus cancellatus, Harpalus laevipes, Carabus hortensis, Pterostichus niger, Poecilus versicolor, Pterostichus melanarius, Carabus glabratus, Carabus granulatus, Carabus arvensis baschkiricus, Pterostichus oblongopunctatus) constitute the majority of the Carabidae fauna. Seasonal dynamics are maximal in spring; the number of ground beetles decreases in biotopes by autumn.

Pterostichus niger (Coleoptera: Carabidae) preying on Lissotriton vulgaris (Caudata: Salamandridae) in complete darkness and fairly low ambient temperatures was recorded in mid-winter in the underground fortifications near Strzaliny, NW Poland, confirming the occurrence of the predation on small caudate amphibians by carabid beetles in natural conditions. The long but successful predatory event, being a result of sharing the same shelter, revealed the opportunistic predispositions of that generalist predator in a situation in which its typical prey was absent. This suggested that small amphibians may be a source of food for carabids, even for only moderately large species, in late autumn and winter shelters.

Agrogenic pollution with pyrethroid insecticides has been impacting the structure of populations of terrestrial invertebrates, causing decline in their taxonomic diversity and tolerance to critical values of environmental factors. In a laboratory experiment, we evaluated the sensitivity of 46 non-target invertebrate species to cypermethrin. In most examined species, we observed correlation between the body parameters (length and weight of body) and tolerance to this insecticide. We determined that the greater body size of the invertebrates, the better their tolerance to cypermethrin. Differences in LD50 were the highest for groups of invertebrates with the body weight of 1.0–3.9 mg (1.9 ± 0.5 g/ha) and 16.0–63.9 mg (16.4 ± 3.2 g/ha). We observed a relashionship between the trophic specialization and sensitivity to the insecticide in phytophages and zoophages. Average LD50 values for phytophages were 2.1 ± 0.5 g/ha, much lower than for zoophages – 15.6 ± 3.3 g/ha. Among zoophages, the greatest tolerance to cypermethrin was demonstrated by ground beetles Carabus coriaceus L., Pterostichus niger (Schall.), P. melanarius (Ill.), Pseudoophonus rufipes (De Geer), and earwigs Forficula auricularia L. Analysis of various taxonomic groups of insects revealed the parameter to be 24.00 ± 4.66 for Carabidae, 8.60 ± 2.72 for Formicidae, and 0.23 ± 0.08 for Staphylinidae. Among the taxonomic groups we studied, the most sensitive to cypermethrin (LD50 = 0.002–0.99 g/ha) were Philonthus decorus (0.0029), Ph. rectangulus (0.0035), Ophonus rufibarbis (0.121), Oxytelus sculptus (0.124), Myrmica ruginodis (0.39), Aleochara lanuginosa (0.49), Carabus granulatus (0.51), Oxythyrea funesta (0.52), Tachinus signatus (0.55), Cixiidae sp. (0.56), Lygus pratensis (0.56), Carabus convexus (0.71), and C. hortensis (0.83). Lower sensitivity to cypermethrin (LD50 = 1.00–9.99 g/ha) was seen in Lasius fuliginosus (1.05), Pyrrhocoris apterus (1.28), Chortippus sp. 2 (1.96), Rhyparochromus phoeniceus (2.24), Phosphuga atrata (2.25), Chironomus plumosus (2.58), Labia minor (2.86), Graphosoma italicum (2.86), Hister fenestus (3.39), Cylindroiulus truncorum (3.61), Opilio saxatilis (3.71), Chortippus sp. 1 (3.94), Epaphius secalis (4.54), Lasius niger (4.77), Silpha carinata (4.84), Aphodius foetens (4.94), Porcellio laevis (5.68), Coreus marginatus (6.50), Leistus ferrugineus (7.39), and Lasius alienus (9.73). The most tolerant to cypermethrin (LD50 = 10.00–108.00 g/ha) were Calathus fuscipes (12.14), Limodromus assimilis (12.22), Trochosa terricola (12.55), Lithobius forficatus (13.98), Calathus ambiguus (20.85), Nebria brevicollis (23.20), Ponera coarctata (27.04), Megaphyllum sp. (29.01), Pseudoophonus rufipes (41.75), Pterostichus melanarius (45.78), P. niger (58.29), Forficula auricularia (80.57), and Carabus coriaceus (107.71). The differences we found in tolerance to cypermethrin ranged 100,000 times. This evidences the necessity of further research of taxonomic differences in tolerance of invertebrates to cypermethrin.

Ground beetles in multiple species vary greatly in the expression of the shape on sexual traits, resulting in a sexual shape dimorphism as a consequence of sexual selection differences. The present research focuses on the study of inter and intrasexual sexual shape dimorphism of two generalist genera of ground beetles Pterostichus and Carabus. Geometric morphometric methods were applied to five generalist species of ground beetles Carabus exaratus, C. granulatus, Pterostichus melanarius, P. niger, and P. oblongopunctatus and several multivariate analyses were applied for two different traits, abdomen and elytra. Three of the five species analyzed showed high levels of sex-based shape dimorphism. However, the most generalist species, P. melanarius and P. oblongopunctatus, did not evidence shape-based sexual dimorphism differentiation in both of the analyzed traits, as statistically confirmed based on the permutation of pairwise comparison of the Mahalanobis distances of a sex–species classifier. It is generally known that environmental stress in natural populations can affect the fitness expression, principally related to sexual fecundity, being that this pattern is more evident in non-generalist species. In our results, the contrary pattern was found, with the absence of sexual shape dimorphism for two of the three generalist species analyzed. On the other hand, the interspecies shape variation was clearly identified using principal component analysis of both of the analyzed traits. Finally, this research is the first to analyze the relationship between sexual shape dimorphism in Russian ground beetles, evidencing the lack of understanding of the mechanism underlying the sexual dimorphism, especially in species living in extreme environments.

Carabid beetles were sampled by using pitfall traps during one season in traditionally managed wooded meadow and in adjacent habitats (dry meadow, deciduous forest and spruce forest) on Saaremaa Island, Estonia. A total of 2356 carabids belonging to 35 species were caught. The number of species and species diversity were highest in the wooded meadow and lowest in the dry meadow. In the wooded meadow, the dominant species were Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) and P. niger, (Schaller), which counted together for 49% of the total sample. The highest number of scarce species was found in the wooded meadow. Similarity of the carabid assemblages was highest between the two types of forests. The carabid assemblage in the wooded meadow was most similar to that of the deciduous forest; the values of similarity of wooded meadow versus spruce forest and wooded meadow versus dry meadow were only slightly lower. The results indicate that high biodiversity level of the wooded meadow can be maintained only through continuous traditional management.

During a period of three years (2006–2008) the carabid fauna in wet and humid forest habitats of different stages of succession was studied at the Puszcza Knyszynska (north-east part of Poland). The aim of this study was to determine how the assemblages of the carabid fauna change in relation to the ongoing process of succession. Using pitfall traps, 24 plots were sampled. The plots were located in stands of different age, from two year old plantations to more than 100 year old forests. Additionally, the stands were ordered in three moisture classes (wet, humid and very humid) and two classes of soil richness. As indicators for change in the carabid fauna in relation to age of the stands Mean Individual Biomass (MIB), species diversity and share of forest species were used. By applying multivariate statistics the relation of the different habitat characteristics to changes in the carabid fauna was examined. During the study 8903 individuals belonging to 57 species were collected. <i>Pterostichus niger</i> represented 28% of the total catches and therefore the most common species. Another common species, <i>Pterostichus melanarius, </i>contributed to 13% of the total catch<i>. </i>This species was caught at every plot, even in the old forests. In contrast to the results obtained by Szyszko (1990) for fresh and dry pine stands, in this study the relation of MIB with the age of forest was not significant. Although the number of species was rather constant, the number of individuals belonging to the group of forest species significantly increased with the ageing of the forest. The multivariate analysis showed a relationship with ageing of the stands and soil richness rather than with moisture and size of the forest. According to the present paper, clear cuttings in wet and humid habitats do not cause a strong degradation of the carabid fauna.

We assessed the degree to which cypermethrin impacts the taxonomic diversity of non-target groups of soil and litter invertebrates in the agrocoenoses of Kėdainiai District, Lithuania. The studies were conducted in three agrosystems, two of which have been farmed conventionally, with the use of insecticides (cypermethrin), and one where no chemical means had been applied. It was the first time that a modern graphic analysis was conducted for the distribution of the invertebrates depending on their average body length and their total abundance in an agrocoenosis. By number of species and their abundance, the most diverse group in all the examined agrocoenoses was Coleoptera, with a significant dominance of Carabidae. The dominant species of invertebrates in the studied agrocoenoses were Nebria rufescens, Loricera pilicornis, Metallina lampros, Poecilus cupreus, P. versicolor, Pterostichus melanarius, Amara aenea, A. communis, A. convexiuscula, Calathus ambiguous, C. fuscipes, Anchomenus dorsalis, Harpalus griseus, H. rufipes, H. distinguendus, Coccinella septempunctata, Lasius niger, and Pardosa lugubris. The conventionally farmed agrocoenoses of rapeseed and wheat were characterized by impoverished taxonomic compositions, with prevalence of several eudominant and dominant species (Pterostichus melanarius, Poecilus versicolor, and Calathus fuscipes). The size structure was significantly uneven. Most of the species recorded in these plots were zoophages, represented by flying and non-flying forms. In the ecologically farmed wheat agrocoenosis, which had not been treated with insecticides, we observed a relative eveness in the size structure, absence of eudominant species, and increase in the taxonomic diversity due to the distribution of non-target groups of arthropods that are more sensitive to cypermethrin (Porcellionidae, Lithobiidae, Tetrigidae, Acrididae, Coreidae, Lygaeidae, Cydnidae, Pentatomidae, Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, and Thomisidae). The percentages of zoophages declined, while the shares of phytophages and polyphages that are able to fly increased.

Large-scale systematic patterns of variation lie in the heart of organismic biology and have interested biologists ever since the beginning. These are most obvious in terms of body size, probably the single most important quantitative trait of an individual. In this relation Ground Beetles are poorly studied, though they are regarded to be sensitive to environmental changes and are accepted bioindicators. Beetles were sampled in 8 provinces of Russia, situated at different latitudes. We measured elytra length in six paleartic eurytopic species of carabids. We used mixed linear models to infer the mean latitude effect on size and sexual dimorphism of females and males. Regression coefficients in both sexes were negative and differed in different species. In&nbsp;<em>C. cancellatus</em>,&nbsp;<em>C.hortensis</em>,&nbsp;<em>P. niger</em>&nbsp;modulus of regression coefficients were larger in females, then, in that species females were more variable than males. In&nbsp;<em>C. granulates&nbsp;</em>and&nbsp;<em>P. melanarius</em>&nbsp;modulus of regression coefficients were larger in males, then, in those species males were more variable in latitude gradient. It is noteworthy that species, sharing the same ecological niches, had different strategies in realizing sex &ndash; specific body size variation in latitude gradient. E. g.,&nbsp;<em>C. granulatus</em>&nbsp;-&nbsp;<em>C. cancellatus</em>,&nbsp;<em>P. niger</em>&nbsp;-&nbsp;<em>P. melanarius</em>. In general body size decreased in latitude gradient both in females and males. Shifts were steeper in Carabus species, than in Pterostichus.&nbsp; Despite SSD occurred in some analyzed latitudes and mainly at the margins of area, modeling results did not confirm opinion that SSD systematically changes in latitude gradient.

Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) stand out as one of the most diverse families not just among insects but also among all living organisms on Earth. They have emerged as essential bioindicators of environmental disturbance, reflecting changes in ecosystems due to agricultural, forestry, and urbanization practices. The presence, abundance, and species composition of carabid communities serve as reliable indicators of habitat quality and ecosystem health. We conducted a comprehensive study of the meadow-steppe habitats, utilizing ground beetles as sensitive ecological indicators. We delineated four distinct groups of species based on ecological preferences and habitat affinities: I) steppe xerothermophilic stenobionts; II) steppe and ruderal xero- and mesophilic eurybionts; III) meadow and ruderal meso- and hygrophilous eurybionts; and IV) forest meso- and hygrophilous steno- and eurybionts. Our findings elucidate a distinct response of ground beetle species groups to transformation processes occurring within meadow steppes. Species belonging to group I (Brachinus crepitans, Ophonus rupicola, O. puncticollis, Leistus ferrugineus) expanded notably in distribution under conditions characterized by xerophilization and elevated temperatures. Conversely, species within group II (Harpalus atratus, H. caspius, H. hospes, H. solitaris, Ophonus azureus) and group III (Amara aenea, A. familiaris, Calathus fuscipes, Carabus cancellatus, C. convexus, Cylindera germanica, Harpalus affinis, H. latus, H. rubripes, H. xanthopus, Pterostichus atrorufus, P. cupreus, P. strenuus) showed a comparable response to the habitat, with a preference for higher soil mois­ture. Species within group IV (Abax carinatus, A. parallelepipedus, A. parallelus, Carabus arvensis, C. glabratus, C. linnei, C. nemoralis, C. ulrichii, C. variolosus, Cychrus caraboides, C. semigranosus, Leistus piceus, Limodromus assimilis, Molops piceus, Pterostichus melanarius, P. niger, P. oblongopunctatus) demonstrated an association with markedly different environmental condi­tions, characterized by significant moisture levels and relatively lower soil temperatures conducive to their existence. Steppe species (group I) were observed in only 12 out of 27 sample plots of meadow steppes, while a significant presence of species from groups II and III was evident in most cases, indicating mesophilization due to shrub and tree vegetation expansion. Forest species of ground beetles (group IV) were prevalent in the majority of meadow steppe sample plots, reflecting disruption of plagioclimax likely re­sulting from the cessation of traditional economic practices. Despite the presence of the meadow-steppe vegetation, steppe species of ground beetles were entirely absent, suggesting their potential as early indicators of ongoing changes in the meadow-steppe habitats.

Ground beetles (Carabidae) are one of the largest families of coleopteran insects; most of their larvae inhabit the soil or soil surface; some of them live in moist forests, under tree bark, and on dry trees. Based on the need for moisture, beetles are divided into two groups: hygrophiles and mesophiles. Hygrophiles are found in water reservoirs, on river banks, or in very wet soils (Nebria, Elaphrini, Dyschirius, Bembidion, Chlaenius, some Pterostichus). Mesophiles live in mountainous areas (oftenly Carabus, Amara, Harpalus, Pterostichus, etc.). Most beetles are polytrophic predators. A large number of polytrophic predators define their practical importance. Herbivorous and omnivorous beetles are pests of economic significance. For all beetles, the most important abiotic factor is soil moisture. The overwhelming majority of species are inclined to live in relatively low-temperature biotopes. Such needs are especially typical for non-specialized polytrophic predators. The proportion of meso-xerophilic species among herbivores is much higher, since these species, like other herbivores, can compensate for the lack of moisture in the body by absorbing plant juices. The studies were aimed at researching the species composition of ground beetles in agricultural cenoses of the Almaty, Talgar, Ili, Zhambyl, Karasai, and Enbekshikazakh regions. Field studies were carried out in 2019-2020 from early May to late September. The research was conducted using methods generally accepted in entomology. The study also used an ecological type of soil trap to minimize damage to the beneficial entomological fauna of the study area – insectivores. Also, Barrier soil traps were used to capture the beetles. 10 traps were installed at a distance of 5 meters in the research area of the field: soil traps were installed from late May to mid-October. Beetles were collected from the trap every 7–10 days. Based on the results of the research, lists of pests and insectivores of agricultural landscapes of South-East Kazakhstan (soybeans, alfalfa, barley, wheat, corn, etc.) were compiled. According to the results of the study, 29 species belonging to 18 genera of ground beetles (Carabidae) in the agricultural landscapes of South-East Kazakhstan were identified. Of these, Harpalus (5 species, 17%), Poecilus(3 species, 11%) were predominant in species composition, and only 1-2 species were known to be from the remaining 16 genera. The article shows the habitats of these beetles in the agricultural cenoses of South-East Kazakhstan, their trophic relationship and impact on the agrocenosis, and their practical significance. The species discovered in the course of the study were divided into 3 groups based on their diet: herbivores (feed on plants), omnivores (feed on both vegetation and animal food) and insectivores (feed on insects). Herbivores: Acupalpus elegans Dejean, 1829, Zabrus morio Ménétriés, 1832, Zabrus tenebrioides Goeze, 1777. Omnivores: Amara aenea (DeGeer, 1774), Amara similata Gyllenhal, 1810, Calathus halensis (Schaller, 1783), Harpalus smaragdinus (Duftschmied, 1812), Harpalus affinis Schrank, 1781, Harpalus anxius Duftscmid, 1812, Harpalus distinguendus (Duftschmid, 1812), Harpalus rufipes (De Geer, 1774), Poecilus sericeus sericeus Fischer von Waldheim, 1824, Poecilus versicolor (Sturm, 1824), Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758). Insectivores: Anchomenus dorsalis (Pontoppidan, 1763), Brachinus crepitans Linnaeus, 1758, Brachinus ejaculans Fischer-Waldheim, 1828, Carabus cicatricosus Fischer von Waldheim, 1842, Carabus nemoralis Müller, 1764, Calosoma auropunctatum (Herbst, 1784), Calosoma denticolle Gebler, 1833, Chlaenius spoliatus Rossi, 1790, Cymindis picta Pallas, 1771, Elaphrus cupreus Duftschmid, 1812, Elaphrus riparius (Linnaeus, 1758), Microlestes minutulus Goeze, 1777, Lebia cruxminor Linnaeus, 1758, Loricera pilicornis (Fabricius, 1775), Notiophilus aquaticus Linnaeus, 1758, Pterostichus niger (Schaller, 1783). Herbivores had 3 species (8%), omnivores had 11 species (48%), and insectivores – 16 species (44%).

The change in the morphometric variable of ground beetles as well as in their volume (ellipsoidal biovol-ume) indicates the state of the biotope (unstable, stable), which is affected by anthropogenic activity such as forestry, agriculture and urbanisation. Between the years 2020 and 2022, we conducted research in flood-plain forests, which were located in agriculturally used land and in the important European territory of Du-najské Luhy Protected Landscape Area. Using the pitfall traps method, we recorded 1319 individuals be-longing to 29 species of ground beetles in six study areas representing two types of habitats (willow-poplar floodplain forest and regenerated poplar forest). We confirmed the largest average Ellipsoid Biovolume (EV) in the species Carabus coriaceus L. (2936 mm3), Carabus scheidleri Panzer (1427 mm3), Carabus vio-laceus L. (943 mm3), Carabus granulatus L. (366 mm3), Cychrus caraboides (L.) (336 mm3), Pterostichus niger (Schaller) (254 mm3), Harpalus rufipes (DeGeer) (123 mm3). The redundancy analysis confirmed the predominance of apterous and brachypterous species of ground beetles in forest stands in the Dunajské Luhy PLA (important European territory). These groups of Carabidae point to the ecological stability of bio-topes, because they inhabit habitats where they have optimum food. On the contrary, we confirmed the pre-dominance of macropterous species in forest biotopes in agrarian landscape conditions, which points to bi-otopes cyclically disturbed by anthropogenic activity. We recorded larger individuals in groups of apterous and brachypterous species in forest stands in the conditions of the Dunajské Luhy PLA. Larger macropter-ous individuals were recorded in forest stands in agrarian landscape conditions. In order to preserve forest habitats of European importance, it is necessary to know the ecological interactions between the ecosystem and ground beetles.

Ground beetles and tiger beetles are the most noticible representatives of predatory invertebrates often used in bioidentificational studies. This article provides quantitative and ecological characteristics of Caraboidea in five metroplises of Ukraine (Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Lviv). In total, in these cities, 237 species of Caraboidea were recorded, belonging to 63 genera and two families – Carabidae (231 species, 61 genera) and Cicindelidae (6 species, 2 genera). By abundance of Carabidae in megapolises, 33 species were identified to abundant. Eudominants were represented by three species: Harpalus rufipes, Pterostichus melanarius and P. оblongopunctatus, dominants – five: Amara aenea, Anchomenus dorsalis, Calathus fuscipes, Harpalus distinguendus and Poecilus versicolor. Subdominants were 25 species: Amara similata, Asaphidion flavipes, Badister bullatus, Bembidion lampros, B. properans, Broscus cephalotes, Calathus ambiguus, C. melanocephalus, Carabus cancellatus, C. coriaceus, C. granulatus, Cylindera germanica, Harpalus affinis, H. anxius, H. griseus, H. latus, H. tardus, Limodromus assimilis, Microlestes minutulus, Nebria brevicollis, Notiophilus palustris, Poecilus cupreus, Pterostichus niger, P. ovoideus and P. strenuus. In the studied cities, 53 species are rare, 151 species were identified to the group of accidental species. For separate cities, number of eudominants ranged from 4 (Donetsk, Kyiv) to 6–8 (Kharkiv, Lviv). Ten species discovered: Amara famelica, A. majuscula, Anisodactylus nemorivagus, Asaphidion pallipes, Badister lacertosus, Blemus discus, Harpalus laeviceps, Limodromus krynickii, Pterostichus minor and Tachyta nana were new for the Steppe zone of Ukraine. Chlaenius aeneocephalus and Brachinus brevicollis were recorded for the first time in the Right Bank of the northern subzone of the steppe zone, and Stenolophus abdominalis mentioned earlier for the far south of Ukraine was for the first time reported for the northern Steppe. Microlestes nеgrita was new for the Forest Steppe, and Masoreus wetterhalli and Syntomus foveatus, known earlier for the forest zone and the south of the steppe zone, were for the first time reported for its northern subzone. The levels of faunistic similarity of Caraboidea for different metropolises ranged within 0.20–0.60 for all species and 0.32–0.90 for abundant species. Most similar were carabidofaunas of Kharkiv and Dnipro (similarity index of Jaccard equaled 0.58–0.87), slightly lower in Dnipro and Kyiv (0.50–0.72). Lowest parameters were seen for Lviv compared with the other cities (0.20–0.32). According to the species composition, the most numerous were meadow (119) and forest elements (59 species). To the polytopic group, 25 species are identified, 23 to the steppe group, and 11 species to the litoral group. In numbers in all the metropolises, the polytopic group dominated, among which abundant species comprised almost half. Within the forest group in Dnipro, Donetsk and Kharkiv, 4–6 abundant species were recorded, whereas in Kyiv and Lviv their number was 14–17 species. Within the meadow group, common species were represented by 4–11 species, and in the steppe and litoral groups such species were absent. In relation to moisture, eudominants were mesophiles (165 species), including 31 abundant species. According to the trophic specialization, zoophages dominated (146 species), including 24 abundant species. Among zoophytophages, 60 species (seven abundant) were recorded. Phytozoophages were represented by 30 species (two abundant). According to mechanical composition of soil, the more diverse groups were observed to be made up species preferring loamy and clay-loamy soils (85 species each), but to the abundant species from these groups, 6 and 10 species respectively were identified. The group of ground beetles with non-manifested preferences to mechanical composition of soil was represented by 41 species, though by number of abundant (17 species), the group was dominant. To inhabitants of heavy loamy, sandy and sabulous soils, 4, 6 and 16 species correspondingly were identified, and no abundant species were observed. At the level of abundant species, the ecological structure was more similar than shown by the analysis of all the species of ground beetles. Hypothetically, typical representatives of carabid beetles of Ukrainian metropolises could be considered polytopic or meadow (to a lesser extent forest) mesophile zoophages or zoophytophages which prefer loam-clayey soils without preference to one or the other type of soil.

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We sampled beetles in different regions of Russia (Tatarstan Republic, Mariy El Republic, Udmurtia Republic, Kemerovo, Sverdlovsk, Stavropol, Cis-Ural provinces) at sites which varied in the level of anthropogenic impact and vegetation. We used linear models to clarify how urbanization affected body size variation in studied species. All of them were palearctic generalists – Carabus granulatus, Carabus cancellatus, Pterostichus melanarius, Pterostichus niger, Poecilus cupreus, and only Carabus aeruginosus was a Siberian one. Beetles we measured for six dimensional traits. In a whole 12000 specimen have been analyzed. Results showed that different traits of Ground Beetles can response to urbanization in opposite directions: e.g. in some studies species factor “city” decreased elytra length, but increased its width and vise versa. Effect of “city” and “suburbs” factors had different directions, e. g. in a given species body size decreased in cities but in suburbs it increased and verse versa. Cognate species, which occupy similar ecological niches, have responded to urbanization in opposite directions. Females and males can respond to urbanization in opposite directions, the latter lead to the significant body size sexual dimorphism in the gradient of urbanization.

Apart from experimental design, the selection of pitfall trap size, collecting fluid and habitat type sampled may also influence the capture efficiency of the method. We combined three field studies from two very different geographic areas, in which the efficiency of pitfall traps, using carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is evaluated. First, we showed that ethylene-glycol is a more efficient collecting fluid compared to commercial anti-freeze, paraffin and salt water in collecting beetles in a forest patch in South Africa. Second, we showed that larger traps (90 mm mouth diameter) are more efficient in collecting carabids than small traps (65 mm) in a meadow in Finland. We also showed that for these large traps, commercial vinegar was a better collecting fluid than propylene-glycol, but that for small traps, propylene-glycol was superior to vinegar in collecting carabids. Finally, we showed that the trappability of Pterostichus oblongopunctatus and Carabus hortensis differed in enclosures placed into two different habitat types (a forest and a clear-cut in Finland), while trappability did not differ significantly for two other species (Calathus micropterus and Pterostichus niger) in these habitat types. However, for the two Pterostichus species studied, the catches in traps placed in the centre of the enclosures were slightly higher in the clear-cut, compared to the forest, and catches were higher in enclosures with rich field-layer vegetation, compared to enclosures with poor vegetation. The three studies re-emphasise the uncertainties of using pitfall traps in ecological studies. However, with careful planning and standardisation to help avoid erroneous interpretations, pitfall trapping is an invaluable method for the field ecologist.