Author(s): Andorkó, R. & Kádár, F.
Title: Life-history characteristics of the ground beetle Carabus scheidleri (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Hungary
Year: 2009
Volume: 55
Pages: 381-393.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe patterns of seasonal activity, age structure, and reproductive characteristics of a population of the ground beetle Carabus scheidleri inhabiting an abandoned agricultural field in Hungary. Adults used in this investigation were collected by pitfall trapping during the summers of 2000, 2001 and 2002. The activity period overlaps with the reproductive period. Beetles showed two seasonal activity/reproductive peaks: at the end of May, young and immature adults dominated; and the second activity peak occurred in July, when both mature and young adults were caught. Ripe eggs were found in the ovaries from the end of May until the end of August. The mean number of eggs per female was 5.06±4.82 (the maximum number of eggs/gravid female was 22 and the most frequent number of eggs /gravid female was 2). The rate of egg deposition was around 0.067. The seasonal fecundity was 15.79 in 2000, 20.46 in 2001 and 49.06 in 2002. Our results suggest that this species in this area overwinters both as larvae and as adult, it has overlapping generations and several reproductive periods. These characteristics ensure the persistence of the population in human-modified and highly disturbed habitats.
Keywords: seasonality, reproduction, age structure, Carabus scheidleri, fecundity
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Bakonyi, G., Mahunka, S., Báldi, A., Csuzdi, Cs. & Forró, L.
