The abundance and reproductive activity of common Carabidae in a winter wheat crop

Abstract

Abstract. 1. The number of common carabid beetles trapped‐irr a wheat field on a clay with flint soil from May to October in.1971–77 differed greatly: Harpalus rufipes and Pterostichus melanarius were numerous every year; but the appearance of H.aeneus, P.madidus, Agonum dorsale, Nebria brevicollis, Notiophilus biguttatus, Bembidion lampros and Trechus quadristriatus was much more variable.2. The numbers caught were not correlated with rainfall. Catches of the large species were positively correlated with accumulated temperature above an assumed activity threshold of 5°C, whereas the smaller beetles were negatively correlated with accumulated temperature, suggesting that the danger of desiccation at high temperatures limits their activity.3. The egg‐laying periods of the commonest species were: B.lampros and A.dorsale from late April to June; overwintered P.melanarius, H.rufipes and H.aeneus in May and June, with the summer generation of these species and of P.madidus from July to September; T.quadristriatus during August and September; N.brevicollis from September to November; N.biguttatus and C.fossor laid in the early summer and again in the autumn.4. A few male and female H.rufipes and H.aeneus, and one female P.melanarius and N.brevicollis were each parasitized by a single tachinid larva; one P.melanarius was infested with a mermithid parasite.

EFFECT OF LATITUDE ON THE CRITICAL PHOTOPERIOD FOR DIAPAUSE INDUCTION IN THE BERTHA ARMYWORM, MAMESTRA CONFIGURATA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

“…Frank 197 1;Jones 1979). Similar yearly fluctuations have been observed frequently in studies with other crops (e.g.…”

Influence of Intercropping Canola or Pea with Barley on Assemblages of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

“…This might be particularly important for smaller species of ground beetles. Jones (1979) correlated the number of ground beetles collected in pitfall traps during a 6-yr study in winter wheat with accumulated air temperature Ͼ5ЊC. She found a negative correlation for small species, but a positive correlation for large species.…”

“…Conversely, smaller species common in agroecosystems (e.g., B. nitidum, B. obscurellum, B. quadrimaculatum) are diurnal, when daily values of relative humidity tend to be low. Hence, Jones (1979) concluded that temperature rather than humidity was more likely to affect the distribution of large species with the reverse being true for small species. Her conclusion is consistent with the greater capture of Bembidion spp.…”

The role of crop density, seed and aphid presence in diversification of field communities of Carabidae (Coleoptera)

“…The abundant species are common over geographic areas with similar climates but their abundance varies annually. This variation concerns not only local populations (den Boer, 1977;Jones, 1979) but also metapopulations of larger areas (Honek & Pulpan, 1983). Therefore the relative importance of local factors for determining species abun dance could only be revealed by a synchronous study.…”