Low intensity surface fire instigates movement by Calosoma frigidum (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

By

Jacobs, Jenna
Bergeron, Colin
Work, Timothy
Spence, John R., 1948-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2011

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

147

Pages

641-649

Subjects

Behavior , Calosoma , Defoliation , foraging , prescribed fire

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.147.2084

 

Abstract

The genus Calosoma (Coleoptera: Carabidae) is a group of large, sometimes ornate beetles, which often voraciously attack caterpillars. Many studies have reported Calosoma beetles being highly conspicuous during defoliator outbreaks. Based on observations of individual beetle behavior, patterns of activity density and phenology we provide a hypothesis on how environmental cues may synchronize Calosoma activity with periods of high defoliation. We have observed that adults of Calosoma frigidum construct underground burrows similar to those reported to be created by larvae for pupation. We propose that small increases in soil surface temperature caused either by defoliation events or decreased albedo of blackened, burned soil causes beetles to leave their underground burrows and begin foraging. Indirect support for this hypothesis comes from high levels of adult C. frigidum collected in relatively small patches of burned forest (<200m2) relative to the surrounding mosaic of unburned forest shortly after a prescribed surface burn.