Earth-boring dung beetle Spring
Earth-boring dung beetle Spring (Geotrupes vernalis Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Plastinchatousye — Scarabaeidae
Group (department): Coleoptera — Coleoptera
Status: III category. The rare species which is found in a small amount.
Short description: The bug of the average sizes, length is 14 — 20 mm, convex. The top is strongly brilliant, bright green, blue or black-blue. Bottom blue or green, brilliant. Perednespinka in dense large and small points.
Distribution: Europe, Asia Minor, Iran, Caucasus. In Russia meets in the European part from a taiga zone to the forest-steppe, in the Smolensk region across all territory. Several finds from national park "Smolensk are known to Poozerye" (the neighborhood of the settlement of Przhevalskoye) [1, 2], from the settlement of Ershichi [3] and from vicinities of of Prudki of Pochinkovsky district [4].
Habitats: The mixed and broad-leaved woods and landings, edges and glades. Lives in deep holes under horse and cow manure.
Number in the nature: Meets seldom, in the form of single individuals, in recent years number was reduced.
The major limiting factors: Violation of natural habitats — deforestation, anthropogenous impact on pastures.
Features of biology: It is active from March to June. The cycle of development lasts about a year. Eats horse and cow manure, digs holes under heaps where the female lays eggs. Larvae eat manure before the cold period, winter and pupate [5]. Bugs in May are most active.
Cultivation: It was not carried out.
The taken protection measures: In our country were not accepted, it is included in the Red List of Republic of Belarus [5].
Necessary measures of protection: Collecting ban.
Information sources:
1. Gildenkov, 1993;
2. Gildenkov, 1995;
3. Antoshchenkov (oral message);
4. Dombrovsky, 1913;
5. Red List of Republic of Belarus, 1993.
Originator: M. Yu. GILDENKOV
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