Beetles: Biodiversity, Ecology and Role in the Environment (Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods: Biology, Chemistry and Behavior)

Beetle species belonging to the coleopteran families Bruchidae, Curculionidae, Laemophoeidae, Silvanidae and Tenebrionidae, as well as beetle-like insects from the psocopteran family Liposcelidae, are responsible for serious damages to agricultural products and resources. These beetles can be primary and/or secondary pests, feeding on integral and healthy grains or attacking those already damaged. The affected grains lose weight and germination power, have nutritive value and vigor decreased, as well as have the hygiene and sanity conditions impaired. This book examines the biodiversity, ecology and role in the environment of beetles. BEETLES: BIODIVERSITY, ECOLOGY AND ROLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Contents Preface Chapter 1: The Positive Effects of Prescribed Burning of Clear-Cuts on Saproxylic Beetle Diversity Are Short-Lived and Depend on Forest-Fire Continuity 1Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden 2Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden 3Hovgården 66, SE -781 91 Borlänge, Sweden Abstract Introduction Material and Methods The Study Sites Sampling Analysis Results Overview Temporal Effects of Prescribed Burning Effects of Fire Continuity Discussion Temporal Effects of Prescribed Burning Effects of Fire Continuity Conclusion Acknowledgment Appendix 1. Species List References Chapter 2: Community Assembly of Saproxylic Beetles in Old-Growth Forest and Recently Burnt Forest Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden Abstract Introduction Methods Study Sites Field Experiment Species Ecology Community Variables and Analysis Environmental Variables and Analysis Results Discussion Two Types of Community Assembly Cambivore Specialization Erased Importance of Functional Groups Fire-Dependent Species Conclusion Acknowledgments Appendix 1. References Chapter 3: Assessing the Potential Role of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera) As Ecological Indicators in Tropical Ecosystems: A Review Abstract Introduction Causes and Effects of Amazon Deforestation Surface Soil Invertebrates as Ecological Indicators of Environmental Changes Soil Surface Coleoptera as Indicators of Environmental Changes Soil Surface Beetlesas Indicators of Environmental Changes in the Tropics with a Focus on the Brazilian Amazon Perspectives and Challenges Final Remarks Appendices References Chapter 4: Twig-Girdler Beetles of the Atlantic Rainforest 1Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH), Universidade Federal do ABC – UFABC, Santo André-SP, 2Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Unicamp, Campinas-SP, Brazil Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Study Site and Data Collection 3. Diversity of Twig-Girdlers Beetles of the Atlantic Rainforest 3.1. Community Structure and Host Plants 3.2. Population Dynamics 3.3. Sex Ratios 4. Impacts of Onciderini on Plant Community Structure 5. Host-Plant Utilization and Microhabitat Specialization Conclusion References Chapter 5: Biology, Ecology and Strategies for Control of Stored-Grain Beetles: A Review Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil Abstract 1. Damages to Agriculture Caused by Stored-Grain Pests 2. Biology and Ecology of Beetles and Beetle-Like Insects That Attack Stored Grains 2.1. Bruchidae (Coleoptera) 2.2. Curculionidae (Coleoptera) 2.3. Laemophoeidae (Coleoptera) 2.4. Silvanidae (Coleoptera) 2.5. Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) 2.6. Liposcelidae (Psocoptera) 3. Current Strategies for Control of Stored-Grain Beetles 4. Natural Insecticides for Control of Stored-Grain Beetles Conclusion Acknowledgments References Chapter 6: Decaying Matters: Coleoptera Involved in Heterotrophic Systems 1Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada 2Crop and Environmental Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, The Philippines 3Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Calgary General Investigations Section, Serious Crimes Branch, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Coleoptera Involved in Heterotrophic Systems 2.1. Animal Carcasses 2.1.1. Carcass Decomposition 2.1.2. Main Beetle Families Involved in Carcass Decomposition Silphidae Staphylinidae Histeridae Dermestidae Other Families 2.1.3. Impact on Carrion-Related Communities of Resource Patch Characteristics 2.2. Feces and Dung 2.3.1. Dung Decomposition 2.2.2. Beetles Associated with Dung Decomposition Scarabaeidae Hydrophilidae 2.2.3. Competition for Dung Resources and the Efficiency of Decomposition 2.2.4. Impact on Heterotrophic Dung Communities of Resource Patch Characteristics 2.3. Dead Wood 2.3.1. Dead Wood Decomposition 2.3.2. Beetles Associated with Dead Wood Decomposition 2.3.3. Impact on Saproxylic Beetles of Resource Patch Characteristics 2.4. Other Heterotrophic Resources 2.4.1. Fruits 2.4.2. Leaf Litter 3. Mechanisms Affecting Heterotrophic Community Development 3.1. Heterotrophic Succession 3.1.1. Mechanisms of Heterotrophic Succession 3.1.2. Decomposition or Decay Stages 3.2. Species Aggregation 4. Effects on Coleoptera of Anthropogenic Alterations of Habitats Supporting Resource Patches 4.1. Agriculture and Pasture Management 4.2. Forest Management 4.2.1. Deforestation 4.2.2. Plantation Establishment 4.2.3. Thinning 4.3. Urbanization 4.4. Pollution and Global Changes Conclusion References Chapter 7: How a Locality Can Have so Many Species? A Case Study with Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) In a Tropical Rain Forest in Colombia Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Study Area Dung Beetles Sampling, Data Review and Food Relocation Guilds Data Analysis Results and Discussion Assemblage Structure Spatial Coexistence Mechanisms Temporal Coexistence Mechanisms Resource Coexistence Mechanisms Guild-Resource Relocation Coexistence Mechanisms Ecological Segregation of Species “Rare Species” and Sampling Recommendations Acknowledgments References Chapter 8: Biodiversity in Geographically Remote Natural Populations of Adalia Ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coсcinellidae) Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Taxonomy of the ladybird beetles Adalia Adalia bipunctata Other Species of the Genus Adalia Morphological Polymorphism of A. bipunctata in Populations of the Western Europe Polymorphism of mtDNA in Populations of Adalia bipunctata Comparison of mtDNA for Different Species of the Genus Adalia Relation of mtDNA Variability and Infection with Symbiotic Male-Killing Bacteria Polymorphism of Nuclear DNA in Ladybird Beetles of the Genus Adalia Conclusion Acknowledgments References Chapter 9: Ladybird Diversity on Crops and Ecology of Cocicnelle algerica Kovar in Tunisia Abstract Introduction Ladybird Species Found on Crop in Tunisia Aphid’s Preys and Host Plants of C. Algerica Natural Enemy of Coccinella Algerica Kovàr in a Coastal Area of Tunisia References Index