Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)
Zoology
THE PTEROSTICHINI (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) OF JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE Zaharia NECULISEANU Insitute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova; str. Academy 1, 2028 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, zneculiseanu@yahoo.com Abstract: The present paper presents the first comprehensive study of the the Pterostichini (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (JBWR) (Gateway National Recreation Area). From this refuge were recorded 14 species, belonging to genera Poecilus Bonelli (2 species), Stereocerus Kirby (1 species — S. haematopus (Dejean) and Pterostichus Bonelli (11 species), 13 of which are native species, and one adventive species (Pterostichus melanarius Illiger), introduced from Palaearctic. Many native species are well known in the North America. Were obtained original data about the biology and reproduction period of the Poecilus lucublandus Say, Pterostichus caudicalis Say, Pterostichus corvinus Dej., Pterostichus mutus Say. Keywords: Carabidae, Pterostichini, taxonomy, diversity, biology, ecology Introduction The Ground Beetles (Carabidae), with very attractive beetles, is one of the largest family of the order Coleoptera, with about 40,000 species presently known worldwide (Kryzhanovskij, 1965, 1983; Kryzhanovskij et ah, 1995; Downie and Arnett Jr 1996; Arnett Jr and Thomas, 2000). Most species are black, but some are iridescent. Many of species are large in size, but the variation, even within a single species, is great. Both adults and larvae of ground-beetles are, with rare exceptions, predators. In general, these beetles are terrestrial and they are very abundant in moist areas. They hunt at night and hide under rocks, logs, and other ground cover during the day. The ground beetles are consumers at the highest level of the food pyramid of the small soil animals. Therefore they are important for the flow of energy and nutrients. The Carabidae Family was selected to analyse above problems since it is one of the most effective bio-indicator taxa belonging to the soil fauna. Previous research carried out in different areas from Europe suggested that the main individual biomass (MIS) of ground beetles could be used as a suitable measure to assess the environment stage. Many ground beetles are stenoecious and their mobility enables them to respond quickly to environmental modifications. Species like this are important bioindicators with a high indicator value (Thiele, 1977; Sharova, 1981). Small species are able to fly and move quickly so that they are often pioneers of instable habitats. Such sites are lowland floodplains, which are flooded from time to time. Species that cannot fly, mostly large beetles, are permanent residents. Carabid beetles is the group of insects which is successfully monitored in some European countries by researchers and by voluntary organizations. In the JBWR the insects has been poorly investigated till now, so, generally there is little information and literature on arthropods of this area, about all insects, ground beetles (Carabidae) inclusive. In JBWR were M A RI S I A, XXXVI, p. 65-76
