Changes in Morphometric Traits of Ground Beetles Along Urbanization Gradients

Urbanization has a significant impact on abiotic and biotic factors in nature. We examined the morphometric characters of four carabid species (Abax parallelepipedus, Carabus scheidleri, Carabus violaceus, and Pterostichus oblongopunctatus) along urbanization gradients in and around the cities of Vienna (Austria) and Debrecen (Hungary). We found significant differences among urban, suburban, and rural areas in the parameters of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, the labial palpus, and the length of the tibia and the elytra of the carabids studied. We also found significant differences between males and females based on the parameters of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, the labial palpus, the femur, and the elytra. An interaction between urbanization and sex was found in the case of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, the labial palpus, the femur, and the elytra. Our findings suggested that in the cases of species from Carabini tribus the parameters of antennomers, the maxillary palpus, and the elytra could be useful for assessing the effects of urbanization because these morphometric characters responded sensitively to the environmental stress, whereas the most useful parameters are those of antennomers and the tibia for the species of Pterostichini tribus. Our findings also revealed that females are more sensitive to environmental stress than males.

Seasonal dynamics of common ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) along an urbanisation gradient near Sorø, Zealand, Denmark

The seasonal activity of six carabid species (Nebria brevicollis, Carabus nemoralis, C. hortensis, C. coriaceus, Pterostichus melanarius and Abax parallelepipedus) was studied along an urbanisation gradient (rural forest – suburban forest – forest fragments in urban park) in Sorø, Denmark, during April–October 2004 and 2005.Two groups were identified: 1) Species with constant seasonality, in which seasonal activity profiles did not differ along the gradient (C. hortensis, C. coriaceus, and A. parallelepipedus); 2) Species with flexible seasonality,with remarkable differences along the gradient and between the years (C. nemoralis, N. brevicollis and P. melanarius). In four out of six studied species, 2005 was less favourable than 2004. Spring activity in the urban habitat started earlier than in the suburban or forested ones. A better understanding of urban green infrastructures in biodiversity assessments may need the study of seasonality in order to distinguish whether the bioindicator’s responses are to habitat quality or stochastic seasonal events.

Taxonomic note on Abax contractus (Heer, 1841) and description of A. parallelepipedus ligurinus n. subsp. (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Pterostichini)

The syntype of Pterostichus contractus Heer, 1841 was examined and its taxonomical position was revised accordingly. The historical interpretation of this taxon as a subspecies of Abax parallelepipedus localized in the area between the Maritime-Ligurian Alps and the northern Apennines is rebutted. The taxon is raised to species level under the name Abax contractus (Heer, 1841), as a senior synonym of Abax continuus Ganglbauer, 1891 n. syn. and A. hypocrita Roubal, 1937 n. syn. The subspecies of Abax parallelepipedus previously reported as subsp. contractus Heer, 1841 is re-described under the name Abax parallelepipedus ligurinus n. subsp.

Microsystematic revision of the populations of Abax parallelepipedus (Piller & Mitterpacher, 1783) occurring in central-western Europe (Coleoptera Carabidae)

Morphological variation of central-western European populations of Abax parallelepipedus was studied in order to revise the microsystematics of this species. Original descriptions and systematic revisions published since the second half of the 18th century are discussed. Biometric variables and morphometric indexes were evaluated on 792 specimens sampled from several European countries. The data were statistically analysed in order to discriminate the populations significantly differentiated from the nominotypical form. Features of male genitalia are also discussed. The results attest that the morphological variation becomes more relevant among populations inhabiting alpine environments and the Italian ones show the most distinctive modifications of somatic and/or aedeagic traits. On the basis of these results, A. p. euganensis Schatzmayr, 1944 is resurrected from synonymy with A. p. inferior, whereas the following new synonymies are proposed:Abax parallelepipedus parallelepipedus (Piller & Mitterpacher, 1783) = A. p. subpunctatus (Dejean, 1828) syn. nov. = A. p. audouini (L. Dufour, 1851) syn. nov. = A. p. germanus Schauberger, 1927 syn. nov.Abax parallelepipedus inferior (Seidlitz, 1887) = A. p. alpigradus Schauberger, 1927 (sensu Schatzmayr, 1944) syn. nov.A phylogeographical scenario is hypothesized and discussed in the light of the collected data.

Diversity of ground beetles (Carabidae) in the plantations of fast growing trees

The species diversity of ground beetles (Carabidae) was monitored in the plantations of fast growing trees (poplars and willows) in the District of Žďár nad Sázavou, Czech Republic (faunistic square 6463). Relations between age and type of vegetation and biodiversity were observed. Samples were collected from pitfall traps at monthly intervals from May to October in 2008. In total, 36 species of Carabidae represented by 912 specimens were entrapped in the 4 monitored plots. Basic synecologic characteristics (dominance, species diversity, evenness and Jaccard similarity index) were evaluated. The most numerous species in the plot No. 1 was Abax parallelepipedus (99 specimens), in the plot No. 2 Limodromus assimilis (112 specimens), in the plot No. 3 Amara montivaga (32 specimens) and in the plot No. 4 Poecilus cupreus (52 specimens). The majority of adaptable species was recorded in the plot No. 1, which signifies a well-regenerated secondary biotope. Shannon’s diversity index (2.78) were the highest in the plot No. 3, and the highest evenness was also in the plot No.​ 3 (0.84). The highest similarity expressed by the Jaccard similarity index was observed between the plots No. 2 and 4, the lowest between the plots No. 1 and 3. Fast growing trees plantations host similar fauna of ground beetles as the surrounding agroecosystems with eurytopic species dominating. Specific species of cultivated trees do not probably significantly affect the species composition of ground beetles, but the density of vegetation can affect the abundance of species present. Two threatened species of (Brachinus explodens and Cicindela campestris) according to Decree No. 395/1992 Coll. were identified in the monitored plots.

The detection of predation by Abax parallelepipedus and Pterostichus madidus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) on Mollusca using a quantitative Elisa

The potential of carabid beetles as natural control agents of slugs was investigated using a quantitative indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The crop contents of two species, Abax parallelepipedus (Piller & Mitterpacher) and Pterostichus madidus (Fabricius) collected between May and December 1990, were analysed using an anti-mollusc haemolymph antiserum. The mass, immunological reaction and calculated mollusc content of each beetle crop was determined. Mollusc content was calculated as ‘fresh mollusc equivalent’, and the probable quantities of degraded material present are discussed in relation to predator and prey species. 89.5% of A. parallelepipedus and 42% of P. madidus were found to contain mollusc proteins. Although approximately the same proportion of male and female A. parallelepipedus tested positive, females contained greater quantities of mollusc remains. Approximately 39% of male and 45% of female P. madidus tested positive, and overall female crops contained significantly more material. The calculated amount of mollusc remains found in females was also greater. Over time, the immunological reactivity of A. parallelepipedus crop samples varied significantly. However, when crop weight was taken into consideration, the calculated quantity of mollusc found in strongly reacting samples was not significantly different between months in either species. Neither the immunological response nor the quantity of mollusc remains varied over time in P. madidus, although significant differences were found in overall crop weights. A significant correlation was found between the proportion of mollusc in beetle crops and crop mass in A. parallelepipedus, but not in P. madidus. Correlations between soil temperatures and crop mass, immunological reactivity and mollusc content were not significant in either species. The improved methods of quantifying predation from ELISA data, employed in this study, were an important part of a larger on-going investigation of the role of predation in slug population dynamics within agricultural systems.