Species Composition and Seasonal Activities of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera) in a Fig Orchard

Species composition and seasonal activities of ground beetles in a fig orchard were investigated by pitfall trapping in 1992-1993. A total of 1, 514 individuals belonging to 33 species of Carabidae and Brachinidae were caught. Five species, Harpalus capito, Anisodactylus signatus, Amara chalcites, Pheropsophus jessoensis and Harpalus tridens in decreasing order, were dominant. Seasonal activities of the dominant species were described and the beetle fauna was compared with those in other habitats in relation to species diversity and similarity to determine characteristics. Harpalus capito and An. signatus may be index species of the fig orchard.