HELOPS GLABRIVENTRIS GLABRIVENTRIS (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE), ONE OF THE PRIMARY CONSUMERS OF CORTICOLOUS LICHENS IN THE CONIFEROUS FORESTS OF CYPRUS: BIONOMICS, TROPHIC ASSOCIATIONS AND DESCRIPTION OF LARVAE
Helops glabriventris occurs in Cyprus in forests with Pinus brutia, Pinus nigra and Cedrus brevifolia from 90 to 1915 m. During daylight, beetles usually hide under the bark of trees, whereas at night, they can be found walking along tree trunks, usually up to a height of four meters or more rarely up to eight meters. A requirement for the habitation of adults is the presence of large, old and often damaged trees, in which beetles find shelter during the day. In May, beetles are active from 20:20–20:36 to 21:52–22:00 in almost all mentioned localities of Cyprus, with copulation to occur from 21:00–21:07 to 21:40–21:43. Beetles were active (in Tripylos mountain, Cedar valley) from 18.3 to near 16° C while the humidity ranged from 60-82%. The main host lichen of H. glabriventris is Pseudevernia furfuracea, a widespread lichen in the coniferous forests of Cyprus and a significant component of the lichen fauna of pine and cedar forests of Troodos mountains. Additionally, the species Hypocenomyce scalaris can serve as an alternative host lichen of H. glabriventris in Cyprus, as corroborated by observations conducted at one of the studied localities.
Morphological variability, bionomics and trophic associations of the rare Cypriot endemic Odocnemis intrusicollis (Seidlitz, 1895) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Two populations of the endemic darkling beetle Odocnemis intrusicollis were located across the Troodos mountain range, one occurring at higher and one at lower elevations.
The high-altitude population inhabits mountain forests of Pinus nigra on Chionistra Mt. (Troodos mountain range) at 1700–1800 m. Adults were collected until the second half of May, but are undoubtedly active in the earlier spring period. In the middle of May, the species is active from 20:35 to 21:45 at humidity levels of 60–83% and temperature of 16–18 °C. The lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea was registered as the single host for this population. It should be noted that O. intrusicollis co-occurs with beetles assigned to Helops glabriventris (another species of the tribe Helopini), with the first species to feed on lichen isidia, while the second one gnaws through the upper cortex of the thallus and feeds on the algal layer. We do not exclude the possibility that O. intrusicollis also feeds on the algal layer after damage to the thallus by H. glabriventris. As far as we know, this is the first recorded trophic association of beetles of the subtribe Cylindrinotina with corticolous fruticose lichens from the family Parmeliaceae.
The lower-altitude population was found in a small grove of Pinus brutia on limestone terraces in the foothills of Troodos mountain range. The area around is transformed to vineyards and is a subject to pesticide load, so the only known lower-altitude population of this species appears to be at risk. Adult beetles occur from March to middle of May and they are active (in mid-May) from 20:40 to 21:20 at humidity levels of 70-86% and temperature of 16 °C. Two lichens from the family Physciaceae were registered as hosts for this population: Physcia adscendens and Physconia distorta.
The high-altitude population inhabits mountain forests of Pinus nigra on Chionistra Mt. (Troodos mountain range) at 1700–1800 m. Adults were collected until the second half of May, but are undoubtedly active in the earlier spring period. In the middle of May, the species is active from 20:35 to 21:45 at humidity levels of 60–83% and temperature of 16–18 °C. The lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea was registered as the single host for this population. It should be noted that O. intrusicollis co-occurs with beetles assigned to Helops glabriventris (another species of the tribe Helopini), with the first species to feed on lichen isidia, while the second one gnaws through the upper cortex of the thallus and feeds on the algal layer. We do not exclude the possibility that O. intrusicollis also feeds on the algal layer after damage to the thallus by H. glabriventris. As far as we know, this is the first recorded trophic association of beetles of the subtribe Cylindrinotina with corticolous fruticose lichens from the family Parmeliaceae.
The lower-altitude population was found in a small grove of Pinus brutia on limestone terraces in the foothills of Troodos mountain range. The area around is transformed to vineyards and is a subject to pesticide load, so the only known lower-altitude population of this species appears to be at risk. Adult beetles occur from March to middle of May and they are active (in mid-May) from 20:40 to 21:20 at humidity levels of 70-86% and temperature of 16 °C. Two lichens from the family Physciaceae were registered as hosts for this population: Physcia adscendens and Physconia distorta.