Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in short-rotation willow biomass plantations

Zbigniew W. Czerniakowski; Tomasz Olbrycht

Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in short-rotation willow biomass plantations

Authors

Zbigniew W. Czerniakowski University of Rzeszów, Department of Agroecology
Tomasz Olbrycht University of Rzeszów, Department of Agroecology

Keywords:

Ground beetles, Carabidae, willow, pests, predators

Abstract

Many pests of willows lay their eggs on the soil surface or in its upper layer. Their larvae also develop in soil. Therefore ground beetles may have a strong effect on numbers of these pests. Observations of species distribution and numbers of the Carabidae family occurring on plantations of Salix viminalis were conducted during 2003-2004 in S-E of Poland region. Beetles were caught in Barber’s soil traps. The dominant species were Harpalus rufipes (De Geer), Pterostichus melanarius (Ill)., P. niger (Schall.), Carabus granulatus L. and C. ullrichi Germ.