Biology of some ground beetles (Col., Carabidae) injurious to strawberries

Abstract

Work at East Malling, Kent, between 1952 and 1963 on the biology of Harpalus rufipes (Deg.) (Carabidae), the strawberry seed beetle, is described in detail, and briefer notes are given on the life-histories of H. aeneus (F.), Feronia melanaria (Ill.) and F. madida (F.), which are less abundant but may also damage strawberries. Soil samples for larvae were washed over suitable sieves, those for pupae and adults were carefully searched in the field. Soil sampling showed that adults of H. rufipes colonised strawberry fields only during the fruiting period, weedy arable land and grassy situations being preferred at other times. By soil sampling, it was found that larvae of H. rufipes hatched from eggs laid in weedy soil in late summer, and evidence from pitfall trapping showed that the first two instars were sometimes active on the soil surface from August to December, before penetrating to a depth of 6–18 in. to overwinter. Development was resumed in April, but the larvae remained and the pupae were subsequently found at the overwinter depth in the soil, the larvae presumably feeding on the seed of fat hen (Chenopodium album) lodged in worm burrows. Third-instar larvae occurred from April to July, and adults emerged soon after. In the laboratory, adults lived for a further two years, hibernating in winter, and becoming active and breeding each summer. Laboratory observations on oviposition periods, fecundity and feeding were also made. Larvae, which in the field were mostly found associated with plants of fat hen, fed on germinating seeds of several plants in the laboratory but growth was most rapid when they were reared on the germinating seed of fat hen.The life-cycles and habits of the three other species are briefly described and compared with those of H. rufipes, the seasonal occurrence of the different stages in the life-cycles of all species being shown in a table.

Modeling spatially explicit population dynamics of Pterostichus melanarius I11. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in response to changes in the composition and configuration of agricultural landscapes

“…While eggs remain scattered on the ground (Lövei and Sunderland, 1996), larvae, nymphs and adults of P. melanarius remain nearly motionless in the soil during winter, and we used a probability of surviving and remaining at an age class of 0.3 for eggs and of 0.95 for all other age groups during winter (Briggs, 1965). During the breeding season, motionless eggs of P. melanarius are particularly sensitive to local changes in temperature and humidity and only 40% of eggs laid in fields reach the first larval stage (Brandmayr and Zetto-Brandmayr, 1979).…”

Effects of alternative food on cannibalism and herbivore suppression by carabid larvae

“…Fruit fly pupae were selected as alternative prey because dipteran eggs, larvae, and pupae are consumed by many carabid species as adults and larvae (Currie et al, 1996;Jørgensen & Toft, 1997;Kromp, 1999). Bluegrass, Poa pratensis (Cyperales: Poaceae), seeds were used as alternative plant food in this research because they are readily consumed by many species of adult and larval carabids (Frank, 2007), as are seeds from other grass species (Briggs, 1965;Kirk, 1973;Jørgensen & Toft, 1997;Lundgren & Rosentrater, 2007). Bluegrass, Poa pratensis (Cyperales: Poaceae), seeds were used as alternative plant food in this research because they are readily consumed by many species of adult and larval carabids (Frank, 2007), as are seeds from other grass species (Briggs, 1965;Kirk, 1973;Jørgensen & Toft, 1997;Lundgren & Rosentrater, 2007).…”

“…Carabid larvae consume small arthropods and some species also consume seeds (Kirk, 1973;Jørgensen & Toft, 1997;Hartke et al, 1998). Carabid larvae occur at a range of densities in habitats such as agricultural fields where such alternative foods are abundant (Briggs, 1965;Luff, 1980;Heessen & Brunsting, 1981;Brust et al, 1986). In addition, cannibalism occurs in most species of carabid larvae and is thought to be a key factor regulating carabid populations (Brunsting, 1981;Brunsting & Heessen, 1984;Currie et al, 1996).…”

Changes in the phenology of the ground beetle Pterostichus madidus (Fabricius, 1775)

“…Its autecology is well known (Briggs, 1965;Greenslade, 1965;Murdoch, 1967;Luff, 1973;Jones, 1979) and thus has at least some of the characteristics of a good indicator to signal environmental change (Rainio & Niemela, 2003). Its autecology is well known (Briggs, 1965;Greenslade, 1965;Murdoch, 1967;Luff, 1973;Jones, 1979) and thus has at least some of the characteristics of a good indicator to signal environmental change (Rainio & Niemela, 2003).…”