Influence of temperature and humidity on the activity of three Carabus species

Abstract

Carabid beetles were trapped in summer 1987 and spring 1988 in the Plateau des Tailles (Province Luxembourg, Belgium). The traps were checked every morning during 10 trapping sessions (79 days). Temperature and humidity were recorded continuously on the site during the whole period. The influence of these two meteorological vari- ables was studied using a Stepwise Linear Regres- sion Model in order to study the information added by the different variables. In spring, the higher the mean daily tempera- ture, and the lower the day-night temperature contrast and the mean daily humidity, the more Carabus problemllticus and C. auronitens were active. The activity of Carabus problemllticus and C. auronitens in summer, and of C. violaceus in spring was positively correlated with the mean daily temperature. C. violaceus is active in spring mainly in nights during which the humidity at midnight is between 85 and 97%.