How to translate text using browser tools
18 December 2014 Season of Fine Woody Debris Death Affects Colonization of Saproxylic Coleoptera
Michael L. Ferro, Matthew L. Gimmel
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

A study was conducted to explore the effect of season on colonization of dead twigs by beetles in a Louisiana secondary forest. Previous research showed that twigs cut during spring yielded many specimens and species. The present companion study utilized twigs averaging 14 mm in diameter cut from one tree of Quercus falcata Michaux (southern red oak) during fall (October) 2008, placed in bundles of 10 each, and left in the forest at three sites. Half the bundles were retrieved during winter (January, four months later) and the other half were retrieved during summer (July, nine months later). Coleoptera were collected from bundles using emergence chambers. Only 39 specimens of adult Coleoptera were collected, representing 12 families, 20 genera, and 21 species. Beetle colonization of oak twigs in Louisiana appears to be affected by the interaction of season and twig “quality” (apparently freshness) with the highest colonization taking place in fresh, dead twigs during spring and an order of magnitude lower colonization in 1) fresh twigs during fall or 2) stale twigs during spring and summer.

Michael L. Ferro and Matthew L. Gimmel "Season of Fine Woody Debris Death Affects Colonization of Saproxylic Coleoptera," The Coleopterists Bulletin 68(4), 681-685, (18 December 2014). https://doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-68.4.681
Received: 6 October 2013; Accepted: 1 September 2014; Published: 18 December 2014
KEYWORDS
beetles
ecology
emergence
phenology
southern red oak
twigs
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top