Vertical and Temporal Distribution of Carabidae and Elateridae in Flight Above an Agricultural Landscape

• Published in: Environmental entomology 2000-12, Vol.29 (6), p.1157-1163
• Main Authors: Boiteau, Gilles, Bousquet, Yves, Osborn, Walter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; beetles; Biological and medical sciences; Carabidae; COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY; Elateridae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; sampling; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; traps
• ISSN: 0046-225X; 1938-2936
• DOI: 10.1603/0046-225X-29.6.1157

Fifty seven species representing 26 genera of Carabidae and 46 species representing 14 genera of Elateridae were trapped in flight above a potato dominated agricultural landscape. The estimate of species richness for Carabidae and Elateridae for this habitat was increased 2.2 and 4.6 times by the use of impact traps distributed vertically at 10 different levels. Both families were captured up to 14.3 m. This confirms the widespread use of flight by ground and click beetles although it seems infrequent in most species. The slope of the regression of flight occurrence against height averaged −0.923 and −0.988 for Carabidae and Elateridae, respectively. However, specific vertical flight profiles within the Elateridae vary considerably ranging between −1.665 and −0.092. This indicates that most species actively control their vertical flight profile flying either close to the vegetation or randomly through the air column tested. Implications for insect monitoring are discussed. The temporal distribution of flight was similar for the two families with early peak frequency for host plant location and oviposition.