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Distributional pattern and development of the winter‐active beetle Quedius pellax (Staphylinidae)
Author(s) -
TOPP WERNER,
SMETANA ALES
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
global ecology and biogeography letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.164
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1466-8238
pISSN - 0960-7447
DOI - 10.1046/j.1466-822x.1998.00283.x
Subject(s) - larva , ecology , pupa , range (aeronautics) , biology , habitat , materials science , composite material
The distributional range of Quedius pellax Smetana stretches along the Pacific Coast of North America from southern California north to southern British Columbia. This area is characterized by its humid climate and the relatively low summer and high winter temperatures. Within its distributional range Q. pellax is confined to dense forest habitats where extreme temperatures are lower than in open sites. Females of Quedius pellax were found to reproduce during autumn and winter months. Under controlled laboratory conditions development of the pre‐imaginal stages (eggs, 1–3 larval stages, pupae) occurred in a narrow temperature range of 5–15°C. Under short day conditions (SD 8/16) preimaginal development lasted 355d at 5°C, 125d at 10°C, and 81d at 15°C. Under long day conditions (LD 16/8 at 15°C) the pre‐imaginal development was shortened to 68d. The accelerated development was mainly due to the photoperiodic sensitivity of the third larval stage. Theoretical thermal thresholds for development were found to be at 1.8°C under short day and 4.2°C under long day conditions.