REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITAT SELECTION OF CARABUS ULRICHII (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) IN WOODLAND HABITATS IN HUNGARY

Abstract

The distribution, seasonality and reproductive characteristics of Carabus ulrichii (Coleop-tera, Carabidae) were studied in woodland habitats in Hungary. We sampled a beech for-est, an oak forest and the adjacent transition zone using pitfall traps, in the Pilis Biosphere Reserve in 2005 and 2006. Generalised linear models were used to explore the impacts of the habitat quality and seasonality on the distribution of this species. We found that the light intensity model explained best the species’ activity density pattern, suggesting pref-erence for open oak forest. We also found that the mandible wear was not a good estimator of age in C. ulrichii, but ovarial condition could be used to assess reproductive status. The seasonal activity and life history patterns were similar in the three different habitats for both sexes. Although differences in the total activity density of the species were found, there were no differences either in the seasonal activity patterns, or in the age-composition, or in the reproductive characteristics of C. ulrichii among the studied habitats. C. ulrichii beetles reproduced only once per season in the studied forested habitats.