A faunistic study on Carabidae and Scarabaeidae in alfalfa fields from Central Greece

This paper presents a study of the composition of Carabidae and Scarabaeidae among other surface-active Coleoptera along with their seasonal fluctuation, species richness and relative abundance in three alfalfa hay fields from Kopais Valley (Greece) over a period of systematic samplings (June 2008 to May 2010). Field A was cut monthly (about 4 times per year) and field B bimonthly (3 times), although no field was sprayed. Field C was cut monthly and sprayed with the insecticide bifenthrin three times during the growing season. In total, 48 species of soil Coleoptera belonging to 11 families (particularly Carabidae and Scarabaeidae) were recorded. The family Carabidae was dominated by autumn breeders, with a spring and autumn activity-density peak. Agricultural management did not cause differences in the estimated number of species.