Species Composition and Spatial Distribution of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera) in a Forage Crop Field

Species composition, spatial distribution and seasonal activity of ground beetles in a forage crop field were studied by pitfall trapping in 1990-1991. Twenty-nine species belonging to Carabidae and Brachinidae were caught in Italian ryegrass and sorghum planted seasons. Six of these, Harpalus sinicus, H. eous, Chlaenius micans, Agonum chalcomus, Harpalus tridens and H. jureceki in decreasing order, were dominant. Spatial distribution of the beetles within the field is described with discussion of adjacent environments. Seasonal patterns of adult activity of the dominant species are illustrated.