Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)
Zoology
THE SPECIES PLATYCIS COSNARDI (CHEVROLAT, 1839) (COLEOPTERA: LYCIDAE), THE SECOND MENTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA Svetlana BACAL1'2, Natalia MUNTEANU-MOLOTIEVSKIY1 'Intitule of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 1 Academiei Str., 2028 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova institute of Ecology and Geography, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 1 Academiei Str., 2028 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, svetabacal@yahoo.com , munteanu_natalia_v@yahoo.com Abstract: The paper presents general information about the collection site, phenology and morphological characteristics of the species Platycis cosnardi (Chevrolat, 1839). This being the second record of the species in the Republic of Moldova, Platycis cosnardi is regarded as a rare saproxylic species. Keywords: Coleoptera, Platycis cosnardi, Republic of Moldova. Introduction The species Platycis cosnardi (Chevrolat, 1829), belongs to family Lycidae Laporte, 1836. This family is comprised of about 160 genera and over 4000 described species, with the highest diversity in tropical rainforest [3; 3]. For European Lycidae fauna 12 species from 7 genera were described [10]. The adults in lengths vary from 6 to 20 mm. Body shape is usually elongated with triangular head, the antennae are long, thick and serrated. Body color is usually brick-red. Lycidae beetles are associated with forest habitats, they likely to prefer larger girth beech trunks as these provide a greater volume of larval habitat, and decay over a longer period, therefore providing more habitat for longer. The larvae grow under bark or in leaf litter with a high content of organic substances. It is considered that larvae feed on fermented substances from inhabited substrate. Adults prefer shady places, they have a short life and does not feed at all, except few nectarivorous species. The adults are protected from predators by being toxic. In most of the Lycidae taxa wings are present for both males and females, but there are some genera with apterous females [3]. Materials and methods Material examined: the species Platycis cosnardi (Chevrolat, 1839) was collected in the Scientific Reservation “Codrii” near Lozova (47 7’ 58” North, 28 23’ 9” East, Altitude: 112 m) on 17.03.2015. Only one exemplar was found from dead decaying oak, by manual collection. Forest vegetation of the “Codrii” is represented by leafy forests of the type of Central European forests. The edifice of the forest is the beech [Fagus sylvatica), durmast [Quercuspetraea) and the oak tree [Quercus robur), the last being the most often met in the depression. Voucher specimens are deposited in the Collection of the Museum of Entomology, Institute of Zoology, Academy M A R I S I A, XXXVI, p. 95-98
