Usage of Fermental Traps for the Study of the Species Diversity of Coleoptera

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study describes how simple traps can be used to study tree crowns and undergrowth at low altitudes. They are used with bait made of fermenting liquids (beer, wine) with the addition of sugar and other carbohydrates. The research was conducted between 2018 and 2020 in several regions of Russia. It was possible to identify 294 species from 45 Coleoptera families during this time. Simple traps have been shown to be highly effective, and can be used to study insect biodiversity in forest ecosystems. ABSTRACT: The possibilities of applying various methods to study Coleoptera give unexpected and original results. The studies were carried out with the help of fermental crown traps in 2018–2020 on the territory of eight regions in the central part of European Russia. The biodiversity of the Coleoptera that fall into crown traps includes 294 species from 45 families. The number of species attracted to the fermenting bait is about a third of the total number of species in the traps (this is 97.4% of the number of all of the caught specimens). The largest number of species that have been found in the traps belong to the families Cerambycidae, Elateridae and Curculionidae. The most actively attracted species mainly belong to the families Cerambycidae, Nitidulidae and Scarabaeidae. The species of these families are equally attracted by baits made of beer, white and red wines. In order to identify the Coleoptera biodiversity of a particular biotope, two-year studies are sufficient, and they should be carried out throughout the vegetation season. Especially good results can be obtained from studies of rare species that are actively attracted by such baits. It is possible to study the vertical–horizontal distribution of Coleoptera fauna in individual biotopes.