Ecological composition of communities of herpetobiont insects of the Botanical Garden of Volgograd Pedagogical University

Volgograd State Socio-Pedagogical University, Volgograd, Russia

^* Corresponding author: forest61@bk.ru

Abstract

The species diversity of the herpetobiont complex in the biocenosis of the botanical garden is considered, the percentage of ground insects by the method of nutrition in the artificial ecosystem is analyzed, measures to attract beneficial insects to the territory of the botanical garden are proposed. The purpose of the work: to study a group of coleoptera insects from the herpetobiont complex on the territory of the botanical garden. The method of Barber pitfall traps was used to study coleoptera herpetobionts. The collected insects were recorded and stored for further processing and determination in the laboratory conditions. The entomocomplex of herpetobionts of the botanical garden consists of 15 species from 5 families. The most numerous are the Carabidae, the dominant species are Calathus ambiguus and Cicindela campestris). The subdominant species is Harpalus rufipes, the usual species are Calathus distinguendus, Silpha obscura, Poecilus versicolor. Rare species are Dorcus parallelipipedus, Crypticus quisquilius, Cymindis miliaris. The monotony and species poverty of the Botanical Garden ecosystem is determined by a special complex system of agrotechnical measures, the use of chemicals to exterminate insect pests, and the intensity of anthropogenic pressure. All this leads to instability and variability of the ecosystem. These findings confirm the thesis that overdomination is characteristic of unstable communities with disturbed equilibrium. As a result, there is an increase in insect pests of plants. The study of ground insects by the mode of nutrition revealed 4 groups: zoophages, phytophages, mixophages, necrophages. Zoophages, in particular various species of Carabidae, are the most widespread (66.7%). This is due to the abundance of small invertebrates, the nature of vegetation, the level of humidity in the botanical garden. In order to increase the diversity of the species composition of beneficial insects, it is necessary to create favorable living conditions for them: to increase the food base, to create shelters. The creation of a food reserve is solved by planting mixborders.