Tag Archives: ground beetles

299-302 E. Merivee, A. Must, M. Milius and A. Luik
External stimuli in searching for favourable habitat, overwintering sites and refugia of ground beetles: a short review
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External stimuli in searching for favourable habitat, overwintering sites and refugia of ground beetles: a short review

E. Merivee, A. Must, M. Milius and A. Luik

Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences,Kreutzwaldi St. 64, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: enno.merivee@emu.ee

Abstract:

More than 10 morphological types and subtypes of sensilla have been found on the antennae of ground beetles. On the basis of their external features and similarity with the antennal sensilla of other insects, it is suggested that they may function as mechano-, olfactory, taste, thermo- and hygroreceptors. In ground beetles, however, a thermoreceptive cell located in antennal campaniform sensilla, and three chemoreceptive cells of four, innervating large antennal taste bristles have been electrophysiologically identified. These cells are the salt, pH and sugar cell. Their probable role in searching for favourable habitats, overwintering sites and refugia is discussed. It is concluded that the strength of external chemosensory stimuli to which antennal taste cells do not fire, or fire at very low frequency, represents chemical conditions in the ground beetles’ preferred habitats and microhabitats. In the future, a good knowledge of external stimuli crucial in the searching behaviour of ground beetles’ could allow more effective manipulation of these predatory beetles in agricultural lands..

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221–228 A. Ploomi, E. Merivee, M. Rahi, J. Bresciani, H. P. Ravn, A. Luik and V. Sammelselg
Antennal sensilla in ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae)
Abstract |
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Antennal sensilla in ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

A. Ploomi¹, E. Merivee¹, M. Rahi², J. Bresciani³, H. P. Ravn⁴, A. Luik¹ and V. Sammelselg⁵

¹Institute of Plant Protection, Estonian Agricultural University, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51014, Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: angela@eau.ee
²Institute of Zoology and Botany, Estonian Agricultural University, Riia 181, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
³Veterinary and Agricultural University, Bülowsvej 13, DK 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
⁴Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute, Hoersholm Kongevej 11, DK 2970, Hoersholm, Denmark
⁵Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

Abstract:

The antennal sensilla of male and female ground beetle species Bembidion lampros Hbst., Bembidion properans Steph. and Platynus dorsalis Pont. (Coleoptera, Carabidae) were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope. The filiform antennae of  ground beetles consist of the scape, pedicel and 9 flagellomeres. Thirteen different sensillar types were distiguished. These were: four types of sensilla chaetica, two types of sensilla trichodea, six types of sensilla basiconica, pit-organs sensilla coeloconica, and small domes sensilla campaniformia. Sensilla chaetica 4 occur only on the antennae of P. dorsalis, and sensilla trichodea 1 only on the antennae ofBembidion species. No sexual differences in the types of sensilla were found on the antennae of these three species. The possible functions are discussed and three types of sensilla were considered as olfactory, sensilla trichodea 2 and sensilla basiconica 1 and 2. Olfactory sensilla trichodea 2 and sensilla basiconia 1 form clear dorsal and ventral sensillar fields on the flagellomeres, which seems to be common in ground beetles.

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