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SEPG 2360 - Date Awarded 2004
Family Erotylidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) as bio-indicators of woodland quality in Bolivia.
Zoë Simmons
Abstract
Fungi baited pitfall traps were trialed and their effectiveness at catching Erotylidae and related fungal associated Coleoptera assessed. A new trap design for aerial trapping was tested. Results from both types of trapping were analysed and correlated against forest type (deciduous, semi-deciduous and evergreen) and fungi (native versus commercially available) bait type. All trapped specimens were sorted to morpho-species and identified to Order. No Erotylidae were collected using trapping methods employed. Coleoptera were then further sorted to Family and Scarabaeoidea identified to genus. Two morpho-species are recorded as being uncommon and one as a new site record. Species biology and trapping records were used to investigate theories for the lack of Erotylidae present within the trap samples. Circa 300 specimens of Erotylidae were collected by hand, primarily at night, from fungi. Spore prints and photographic records of fungi were collected with a view to identify the fungi to generic or species level where possible. Erotylid specimens were sorted to morpho-species and identified to generic level or beyond and a preliminary species list is in preparation. Eighteen new morpho-species have been added to the existing list of forty-four (list still under compilation). Reasons for the lack of Erotylidae in traps are discussed and recommendations for further research are made.
Full report: SEPG2360
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