Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: We surveyed ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in 10 stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), all monoculture stands 5-100 years old, in western Slovakia, Central Europe, over two successive periods, October 2013 - March 2014 and October 2014 - March 2015. The winter in each period was exceptionally mild. Ladybirds were collected from the lower branches of pine trees using beating trays and were present in 61% of the 1040 samples (one sample containing ladybirds from 20 branches, 1 m long each). In total 3965 individuals of 20 species were recorded. Non-conifer dwelling species associated with broadleaved trees or herbaceous plants prevailed (45% of species), followed by conifer specialists (40%) and generalists (15%). Although 13 species were found at least in one winter month, December, January or February, only four of them, Exochomus quadripustulatus, Coccinella septempunctata, Harmonia axyridis and Hippodamia variegata, were recorded continually during both winters. The number of species, the abundance of all ladybirds and the abundance of dominant species (E. quadripustulatus, C. septempunctata and H. axyridis) decreased from late autumn towards winter and remained lowest during this most adverse time of the year for ladybirds. Overwintering species assemblages of ladybirds changed over time and varied with age of pine stand. Our results suggest that Scots pine in Central Europe supports species rich assemblages of ladybirds from late autumn to early spring and, being widely distributed, it could be suited to winter surveying of ladybirds at large spatial scales to reveal behavioural and ecological responses of species to changing weather or different climates.
Source: European Journal of Entomology
Institutions: Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Czech Agrifood Research Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $215
Awards: Význam lokálnych habitatov a mikrohabitatov pre priestorovú distribúciu lesných a arborikolných článkonožcov, G181627355, Synekologické špecifiká v diverzite a dynamike entomofauny borovicových porastov (Pinus sylvestris) na Borskej nížine., Factors limiting geographic distribution of native and invasive coccinellid species, G5020397187, Funkčne významné živočíchy v dynamike lesných ekosystémov v nových environmentálnych podmienkach, G5615947011, Informačný a varovný systém pre invázne organizmy v lesnom a urbánnom prostredí, G654891712
OpenAlex ID: W2903382979