Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (4): 473-484, 1997
Seasonal activity, age structure and egg production of the ground beetle Anisodactylus signatus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Hungary
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The seasonal activity, age structure and reproduction of the ground beetle Anisodactylus signatus were studied in central and eastern Hungary. A. signatus is a species with summer as well as winter larvae. Beetles showed two seasonal activity peaks: during mid-June, only ''old'' (overwintered) individuals were caught and this activity coincided with peak egg production; another activity peak occurred in mid-July, when more than 86% of the collected Individuals were ''young''. The activity period of old beetles was shorter in the eastern population. Egg numbers in the ovaries were low (2-10 eggs/gravid female). No eggs were found in young adults, which suggests that females do not reproduce during their first adult year; in the subsequent season, they lay an estimated total of 15.6 eggs. Adults can live longer than one year.
Keywords: Carabidae, Anisodactylus signatus, Hungary, seasonal dynamics, age structure, egg production
Accepted: January 17, 1997; Published: October 1, 1997 Show citation
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