Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32-34. (2014)

Zoology

DIVERSITY OF THE BEETLE (COLEOPTERA) FAUNA FROM RAPESEED AND ADJACENT FOREST STRIP (SADACLIA, REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA)

Svetlana BACAL, Natalia MUNTEANU, Anna MOLDOVAN Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova,

Academiei 1 str., 2028 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Abstract: The present paper is a synthesis of the data on the occurrence and autecology of beetles fauna collected from the rapeseed crop and adjacent forest strip in Sadaclia locality (Republic of Moldova). Altogether, from both fields 53 species of beetles belonging to 31 genera and 13 families were identified. The most characteristic for these ecosystems were species from Carabidae and Scarabaeidae families. The most abundant species for rapeseed crop were Harpalus distinguendus and Pbyllotreta nigripes, and for forest strip Harpalus distinguendus and H. amplicollis.

Keywords: Coleoptera, fauna, ecology, rapeseed, forest strip

Introduction

Rapeseed is one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated around the world, used in both food and technical industries. Rapeseed is used to produce animal feed, vegetable oil for human consumption and biodiesel. During flowering rapeseed is a great source of nectar for honeybees. Worldwide production of rapeseed constitutes 27 million hectares. The top largest areas planted with rapeseed are in China (7.2 million hectares), India (6.9 million hectares), Canada (5.1 million hectares), Germany (1.3 million hectares), and France (1.2 million hectares) [8].

In the Republic of Moldova rapeseed has been grown since 2003. Climate and soil conditions of the republic are favorable for rapeseed cultivation and last years it occupied considerable area, nearly 16000 hectares. Rapeseed prefers cernoziom soils and requires specific water conditions during germination, rosette formation, flowering and fruiting [10].

Rapeseed represents a source of food for a wide range of insects, including beetles, during whole growing season. Extension of area cultivated with different rapeseed hybrids and particularly monoculture favored the appearance of pest outbreaks. Phytophagous beetles are usually controlled by predators. Thus, to maintain rising yields of rapeseeds in conditions of economic and environmental pressures, real knowledge of beetle’s fauna of this culture and adjacent forest strips is absolutely necessary.

Preliminary data on rapeseed crops entomofauna diversity in the Republic of Moldova were published by: Bacal [3]; Bacal, Cilipic [4; 5] and Bacal et al. [2].

M A R I S I A, XXXIII-XXXIV, p. 117-122