THE BEETLES (COLEOPTERA) OF THE SUWALSKI LANDSCAPE PARK MONOGRAPH

The beetles of the Suwalski Landscape Park (NE Poland) were studied between the years 2006−2013. The park covers an area of 6338 ha. Various field methods were used including sweep netting, dip netting, catching by hand, investigation of potential foraging sites of saproxylic beetles, rearing of cambio- and xylophagous larvae from inhabited material and attracting to artificial light sources. On the basis of our field studies and literature data, 1052 beetle species from 70 families were recorded, of which 715 have not been previously reported in the Park. One species – Variimorda briantea – is new to the Masurian Lake Region. The most numerous families were: rove beetles Staphylinidae (208 species), weevils Curculionidae (161 species), ground beetles Carabidae (99 species), leaf beetles Chrysomelidae (86 species) and true water beetles Dytiscidae (64 species). Among recorded beetles, 111 are rare and/or protected species. They were depicted on photographs and discussed in detail. Three species of Carabidae (Carabus coriaceus, C. glabratus, C. nitens) are protected by Polish law, another species belonging to this family – Epaphius rivularis – is listed in the Polish Red Data Book of Animals. A total of 32 species from the Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland were found, four species from the list of Primeval forest relict beetles of Central Europe (Peltis grossa, Tritoma subbasalis, Cryptophagus confusus, Corticeus suturalis), as well as 26 species listed in the European Red List of Saproxylic Beetles. Areas within the Park, considered as the most interesting in terms of beetle fauna, were described. All recorded beetle species were characterized based on their habitat preferences. The most numerous group were open-area inhabitants (379 species) which constituted 36% of all species recorded in the Park. Two other main groups were a forest species (275) and water and riparian species (273). Each of these groups constitue 26% of all recorded beetles. The group of xerothermophilous beetles, which include: Philonthus lepidus, Dolichosoma lineare, Afrogethes tristis, Thymogethes lugubris, Olibrus bimaculatus, Hyperaspiscampestris, Mordellistena pseudonana, M. pseudoparvula, M. purpureonigrans, Anaspis brunnipes, Cassida pannonica, Dibolia cryptocephala, Ceratapion austriacum, Protapion ruficrus, Squamapion oblivium, Lixus tibialis, Cleopus solani, Tychius aureolus, T. medicaginis, T. schneideri, Ceutorhynchus nanus and Ethelcus denticulatus, are very interesting from the faunistic perspective. Adult beetles and larvae were characterized separately with reference to microhabitat and trophism, respectively. A comparison between the beetle faunas of the Suwalski Landscape Park and other protected areas in Poland was conducted. All beetle fauna of the Suwalski Landscape Park, together with particular taxonomic and ecological groups, were also compared with whole beetle fauna of Poland. Water beetles, with over 40% of all species known from Poland, are relatively well represented. Other families with fairly complete coverage in the Suwalski Landscape Park include marsh beetles Scirtidae (41%), apionid weevils Apionidae (37%), ladybirds Coccinellidae (28%), shining flower beetles Phalacridae (25%) and longhorn beetles Cerambycidae (23%). Total number of beetles recorded until now in the Suwalski Landscape Park (17% of Polish fauna) is not large. But considering such factors as intensity of research, area of the Park and its geographic location, it is quite rewarding. Future field investigations should increase the number of species known from the Park, especially in the less-intensively researched groups. Concept of protection of the species richness in the Suwalski Landscape Park was discussed with reference to different ecological groups and habitats. In the case of saproxylic beetles, the main threats are a low amount of dead wood in the forests, and its inferior quality (trees only with thin breast diameters, limited number of tree species). Establishing the designed reserve ”Peat bogs over the Jaczno Lake” is needed to ensure the protection for the most valuable area for saproxylic fauna. This area have also high importance for hygrophilous insects