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Ökologie und Brutpflanzen europäischer Prachtkäfer (Col., Buprestidae)
Author(s) -
Hellrigl K. G.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
zeitschrift für angewandte entomologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0044-2240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1978.tb04028.x
Subject(s) - buprestidae , biology , host (biology) , ecology , agrilus
On the ecology and host plants of European Buprestid species (Col., Buprestidae) A summarian view of the actual scientific state of knowledge of ecology and host plants of European Buprestid species is given. An extensive record became necessary on the one hand because up to now a complete check‐list with details about host plants with references to the respective authors was missing in the phytopathologic literature. On the other hand it seems necessary to eliminate numerous erroneous data (F), which accumulated in the course of time, by a critical revision and investigation of the origin and the authenticity of the existing indications. In order to enlarge the general view there have been included numerous new findings especially those originating from faunistic research, as the latter has not been sufficiently considered up to now in applied entomology. Considering these facts, as well as the long standing personal observations and breeding experiments conducted by the author (A!), the results have been joined and subjected to critical comment. At first a short general review of biology and ecology of the Buprestid beetles is given. It is pointed out that this group shows a distinctive tendency to vicarious and restricted ecological niche‐forming and specialisation. They mostly limit themselves on attacking host plants belonging to closely related plant species or related plant genera. In effect they are mostly from stenophagous to oligophagous, less frequently truly polyphagous. The adults of nearly every species are feeding partially on flower‐petals, partially on leaves, sometimes also on those of plants which they never use for oviposition. The necessity to distinguish between effective host‐plants and plants which are merely frequented (which is still an unexplored speciality in the ethology of Buprestidae, which may easily lead to false conclusions) is pointed out. In Europe there are about 200 different species of Buprestidae, of which 20% are living on conifers, 50% live on deciduous trees and the remaining 30% on herb‐plants. Particulary representants of the first two groups are of economic interest to forestry and fruitgrowing, and as such they are discussed here more in detail.