Consumption of fresh and buried seed by ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
2006
Martinkova, Z.(Vyzkumny Ustav Rostlinne Vyroby, Prague (Czech Republic)) E-mail:[email protected] | Saska, P.(Vyzkumny Ustav Rostlinne Vyroby, Prague (Czech Republic)) | Honek, A.(Vyzkumny Ustav Rostlinne Vyroby, Prague (Czech Republic))
Feeding preferences of two generalist granivorous carabids, Harpalus affinis and Pseudoophonus rufipes, were investigated by offering them fresh (stored frozen after dispersal) and buried (for 6 months in the soil under field conditions) seed of six common weed species. Significantly more of the buried seed of Tripleurospermum inodorum and significantly less of that of Taraxacum officinale was eaten than fresh seed. This probably occurred because the seed of T. officinale was partially decayed and the repellent surface of T. inodorum seed abraded. Concerning the species Capsella bursa pastoris, Cirsium arvense, Melandrium album, Thlaspi arvense the consumption of both kinds of seed did not differ. Feeding preferences were similar in both beetle species tested. Provided that the seed in the soil bank does not decay, it may have a similar or better feeding value for carabids than fresh seed.
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