Importance of forest structures on four beetle families (Col.: Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Lucanidae and phytophagous Scarabaeidae) in the Areuse Gorges (Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

Abstract

The species richness and abundance of selected xylophagous (Buprestidae, Cerambycidae and Lucanidae) and rhizophagous or saprophagous beetles (phytophagous Scarabaeidae) were compared between various forest stands with different ecotone structures. Window traps and water traps were used to sample the beetles. Among the 65 captured species, 13 belonged to the Buprestidae, 41 to the Cerambycidae, 8 to the phytophagous Scarabaeidae and 3 to the Lucanidae. Forest stand and ecotone type were found to have a significant influence on these beetle communities. In oak stands, typical species such as Plagionotus arcuatus, Anoplodera sexguttata or Anthaxia salicis were found, while in beech forests Platycerus caprea was found as a characteristic species. Natural edges are characterised by grassland and shrub species such as Agapanthia violacea, Phytoecia cylindrica and Anthaxia nitidula. In artificial clearings, species living in old stumps such as Corymbia rubra, Prionus coriarius, Rhagium bifasciatum, or Anastrangalia sanguinolenta are common as well as species living in the small branches left after a cutting, the most common of which being Stenurella melanura. In order to conserve a high diversity of forest beetles, oaks should be favoured (it hosts 9 typical species in our study) and diversified structures such as natural edges and artificial clearings must be maintained or created.