Coleoptera from maritime habitats

Coleoptera occupy three rather distinct seashore habitats: the intertidal zone, sandy beaches and salt-mudflats. In our fauna, about 75 species are coastdwellers. More than 50% belongs to the Carabidae and Staphylinidae of which the last is predominant. The species are after ecological factors classified in three major groups: halobiontic, halophilous and haloxene species. Most typical coastbeetles are found beneath wrack and algae, a small group is carnivorous and phytophagous, and only one species is known to be parasitic. Most of the species are very local or rare and only a few can be recognized as common. Notes on their biology and chorology are given in this contribution