Larve di coleotteri in detriti vegetali di origine agricola: lineamenti morfologici e presenza stagionale (Polyphaga: 20 famiglie)

Abstract

COLEOPTEROUS LARVAE FROM PLANT DEBRIS OF AGRICULTURAL ORIGIN: MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND SEASONAL OCCURRENCE (POLYPHAGA: 20 FAMILIES)

Iconography is presented for full-grown larvae of 55 species. Specimens were selected by Berlese’s devices from small masses of plant debris deposited by farmers or gardeners in the rural environment of Apulia and Basilicata regions (Southern Italy). Explanation of each table does report on: the larva colour, the colonized types of debris (referring to the codes in table A), the occurrence months. Moreover, outbreak period is registered for some species. In most cases, larvae were identified from adults obtained by keeping alive some of them in rearing jars. The other larvae were identified by comparing them with collection specimens.

Laboratory observations of the feeding behaviour allowed to include most examined larvae into 3 categories: phytosaprophagous-mycophagous (29 spp.), zoophagous-zoosaprophagous (12 spp.), carpophagous (1 sp.).

Fam. Staphylinidae is the most represented in debris (17 spp. versus 4 spp. at most of the other families) and includes a large percentage of zoophagous-zoosaprophagous larvae.

Outbreaks were registered for 24 species, including 4 cosmopolitan pests of commodities: Carpophilus hemipterus (Linné) (Nitidulidae), Ahasversus advena (Waltl) (Silvanidae), Cryptophilus integer (Heer) (Languriidae) and Typhaea stercorea (Linné) (Mycetophagidae).

The higher number of species (38 spp.) was found in dregs of pressed grapes. Possibly, this type of refuses exhibits combination of favourable characteristics as follows: presence in the field extended from autumn to spring (damper seasons), high and immediate attractiveness for a larger range of adult coleoptera, large volume of each mass.

Key words: Coleoptera, agricultural refuses, larvae, morphology, seasonal occurrence.

Pandesma robusta (Walker, 1858) viene segnalata per la prima volta in Italia continentale a Copanello (Cosenza, Calabria); inoltre, per questa specie si segnala una nuova stazione in Sicilia occidentale, le saline di Paceco (Trapani). Calamodes subscudularia (Turati, 1919) viene anch’essa segnalata per la prima volta in Italia continentale nella Fiumara del Trionto (Cosenza, Calabria); in precedenza era nota solo per la Sicilia. Viene messa in evidenza la tendenza per la fauna dell’Italia continentale ad arricchirsi di specie finora note solo per la Sicilia o dalla distribuzione tropicale o subtropicale.