Reticulated celandine: lifestyle of a rare species, conditions for maintaining the number of insects

Beaver (Calosoma) - one of the genera of a large family of ground beetles. Representatives of more than 160 species live in the Northern Hemisphere. A characteristic feature of beetles is a greenish color with a metallic sheen. Insects are recognized as entomophages; they actively destroy forest pests. Mesh celandine is an inhabitant of the steppes and pine forests. At night, predatory beetles destroy Lepidoptera caterpillars. The reduction of natural habitats has led to a catastrophic reduction in the number of species. In Russia, the beauty of the net is listed in the Red Book.

Morphological description of the species

Reticulated beetle (Calosoma reticulatum) is a representative of the winged wing order, the family of ground beetles, the genus of the beaver. The external appearance of the beetle characterizes it as a predator: the head is prognathic - the jaws are directed forward. Body length 22-28 mm. The main body color is green with a metallic sheen, occasionally individuals of bronze-black color are found. Extremities, antennae, area near the mouth black. The upper jaw or mandible is wide, sickle-curved. Convex facet eyes are located on the sides of the head, there are no simple eyes. Antennae 11-segmented, filiform.

Pronotum convex, wide, with rounded edges. The surface is covered with many dots. Elytra almost oval, end elongated. The sculpture is embossed, many small tubercles merge into a drawing that resembles a grid from afar. Wings developed, adapted to flight. Abdomen consists of 6 sternites. The lower body is glossy. black with a green tint. On the legs of the hind limbs there is a sharp spike. Paws consisting of 5 segments end with two claws.

Information. Under favorable conditions, the life expectancy of representatives of the species Calosoma reticulatum is 2-3 years.

Habitat

The species Calosoma reticulatum lives in the countries of Northern Europe (Belgium, Sweden, Denmark) and Central Europe (Poland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia). In the north, the beetle is found on moorlands, in abandoned areas. In all regions, the findings of populations are sporadic. In Russia, nettle dwellers inhabited the territory from the Baltic Sea to Western Siberia. The last places of detection are Orenburg and Tobolsk. Insects are found in Kazakhstan.

Lifestyle

Xerophilous species prefers dry steppe areas, pine forests, meadows on sandy soils, cultivated fields (usually beet). Openly living predators mainly feed on caterpillars and pupae of butterflies, and do not miss other invertebrates. Mobile and voracious beauties destroy leaf-eating insects. In search of prey, entomophages are guided by the smell of phytophages. The main time of activity is night, but in spring and early summer, beetles hunt in the afternoon.

Interesting fact. Unlike ground beetles, beauties perfectly run through the trees, hunting caterpillars.

The family of ground beetles includes insects with a complete transformation. This means four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and imago. In the year, celandine net gives one offspring. Adults are found from spring to September.

Breeding

The bugs that woke up in the spring are actively looking for partners. At this time, beauticians can be seen flying between the trees.During mating, the copulative organ of the male is inverted and transfers the spermatophore to the female genital tract. Egg laying begins in May or June. Oblong white eggs hide under the remains of vegetation or in the soil. The total clutch numbers 60-70 eggs. Depending on the temperature, embryos mature in 7-14 days. Larvae of campodeoid form, with a long 10-segmented abdomen. On the head there are simple eyes, short antennae and strong stings.

The body of young larvae is soft, but gradually covered with strong plates. They move with 6 legs. On the last segment of the abdomen there are cerci - paired appendages similar to antennae. Larvae are no less voracious predators than adults, feed almost round the clock. They consistently go through three ages, molt twice. Pupulate in the soil. The pupal phase lasts about two weeks. The entire period of preimaginal development takes 2 months. In the winter diapause, an adult takes off.

Conservation status

Deforestation, destruction of habitats, human activities lead to a rapid decrease in the number of entomophages. The main threat is insecticide treatment of the fields. In Russia and European countries, the species is close to extinction. Mesh dyeing is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, it belongs to category I (is threatened with extinction). To preserve insects, it is necessary to create natural territories where the use of pesticides is limited.