Publication details
Aggregation characteristics of three species of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) at hibernation sites
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Eur. J. Entomol. |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | coleoptera; coccinellidae; hibernaculum |
| Description | Adults of some coccinellid species overwinter in aggregations consisting of many individuals. They may clump because adults are attracted to particular environmental stimuli and/or of an innate tendency to join conspecific individuals. Aggregation behaviour was studied in Coccinella septempunctata L., which forms small clumps, and Ceratomegilla undecimnotata (Schneider) and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), which form large clumps. Adults were recorded at five hilltop hibernacula (400 1500 m altitude) in central Europe (50 51N, 14 16E) for periods up to 27 years. The hibernacula occur in areas sparsely covered with isolated grass tussocks or completely with stones. Numbers of adults recorded under each of 300 900 stones or among the stems of the grass tussocks were counted every year at each hibernaculum. The degree of aggregation was determined using Taylor s power law. |
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