Ground and rove beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae) in ecological and conventional winter wheat fields

The species composition, richness and abundance of ground and rove beetles were studied in the conventionally and ecologically farmed winter wheat using Barber's traps. The research area was located in Kazliskiai ecological farm and at the Training farm of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture, situated in central part of Lithuania. 18178 individuals of ground and 2609 - of rove beetle, representing 53 and 45 species accordingly, were captured. The number of Carabidae species and the individuals, captured in the ecologically farmed winter wheat fields was higher than that in the conventionally farmed plots. The number of Staphylinidae species was almost similar in conventionally farmed winter wheat, but significantly increased in ecological field. Higher number of staphynids was captured in the conventionally farmed winter wheat crop. The diversity index and number of species showed small differences between the two cropping systems, but there were significant differences of activity density between ecological and conventional fields.