Turk J Zool 25 (2001) 41-52 © T†BÜTAK A Study of the Ecofaunal Complexes of the Leaf-Eating Beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Azerbaijan Nailya MIRZOEVA Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, pr. 1128, kv. 504, Baku 370073-AZERBAIJAN Received: 01.10.1999 Abstract: A total of 377 leaf-eating beetle species from 69 genera and 11 subfamilies (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) were revealed in Azerbaijan, some of which are important pests of agriculture and forestry. The leaf-eating beetle distribution among different areas of Azerbaijan is presented. In the Great Caucasus 263 species are noted, in the Small Caucasus 206, in Kura - Araks lowland 174, and in Lenkoran zone 262. The distribution of the leaf-eating beetles among different sites is also described and the results of zoogeographic analysis of the leaf-eating beetle fauna are presented as well. Eleven zoogeographic groups of the leaf-eating beetles were revealed in Azerbaijan, which are not very specific. The fauna consists mainly of the common species; the number of endemic species is small. Key Words: leaf-eating beetle, larva, pest, biotope, zoogeography. AzerbaycanÕda Yaprak Bšcekleri (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) FaunasÝ †zerinde AraßtÝrmalar …zet: AzerbeycanÕda 11 altfamilyadan 69 cinse ait 377 YaprakbšceÛi (Col.: Chrysomelidae) tŸrŸ belirlenmißtir. Bu bšceklerden bazÝlarÝ tarÝm ve orman alanlarÝnda zararlÝ durumundadÝr. Bu •alÝßmada YaprakbšcekleriÕnin AzerbeycanÕÝn deÛißik bšlgelerindeki daÛÝlÝßlarÝ a•ÝklanmÝßtÝr. BŸyŸk KafkasyaÕda 263, KŸ•Ÿk KafkasyaÕda 206, KŸr-Aras ovasÝnda 174, Lenkaran BšlgesiÕnde ise 262 tŸr bulunmußtur. Bu tŸrlerin farklÝ biotoplardaki durumu ve daÛÝlÝßlarÝ ile ilgili zoocografik analizleride bu •alÝßmada yer almaktadÝr. AzerbeycanÕda belirlenen Yaprakbšcekleri 11 zoocografik grupda incelenmißtir. YapÝlan bu fauna •alÝßmasÝnda belirlenen tŸrlerin bir•oÛu yaygÝn olarak bulunan tŸrlerdir, endemik tŸr sayÝsÝ olduk•a azdÝr. Anahtar SšzcŸkler: Azarbaycan, yaprakbšcekleri, zoocoÛrafya, chrysomelidae Introduction Materials and Methods The territory of Azerbaijan is notable for the diversity Materials were collected during 1970-1998 in all and particularity of its flora and fauna. This is obvious in landscape zones of Azerbaijan: Sheki-Zakatala, Guba- the specific plant species composition and distribution of Khachmas, Shemaha-Gobustan, Aspheron (Great the leaf-eating beetles among different biocenoses. Caucasus); Gandja-Dashkesan, Nagorny Karabakh, The family of leaf-eating beetles is one of largest Nakhichevan AR (Small Caucasus); Lenkoran zone; families in the order Coleoptera. So far over 50,000 Shirvan, Myl-Karabakh, Mugan-Salyan (Kura-Araks chrysomelid species have been found throughout the lowland). world. They are numerous and widely present in all The work consisted of 3 parts: field, stationary and natural zones of Azerbaijan. Adults and larvae of many laboratory. species are important pests of food crops, plantations of Field work included the inspection of the following trees and shrubs, medical herbs and fodder crops. Their biotopes: meadows, meadow-steppes, wormwood semi- economic importance is often underestimated as their deserts, orchards, plantations of vegetables, forests, and damage to a plant rarely results in death and the forest glades. physiological loss cannot be quantitatively estimated. 41 A Study of the Ecofaunal Complexes of the Leaf-Eating Beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Azerbaijan Stationary observations of the development of some To this group belong Eumolpinae, and some harmful species were carried out in spring-autumn. The Galerucinae and Alticinae. influence of ecological factors such as temperature, 3. Openly living forms. They live on the leaves and humidity and wind on the vital functions of the leaf-eating rarer on the stems of plants. They have various beetles was studied. pigment colorations, and their eyes, legs and Apart from the field research laboratory research was sclerites are well developed. The members of this also carried out to reveal some biological peculiarities of group have multifarious protective formations. the leaf-eating beetles. The group includes Criocerinae, Chrysomelinae, The analysis of materials was carried out in the Cassidinae, and some Galerucinae and Aticinae. Laboratory of Entomology, Institute of Zoology of AS, 4. Cover-carrying forms. The larvae dwell in the Azerbaijan Republic. special larva covers, which are open at the fore ends. The covers are built of particles of substrate and excrement. These forms are found on the Results and Discussion leaves and stems of plants, in ground litter, and in A total of 377 species of Chrysomelidae belonging to anthills. To this group belong Clytrinae and 11 subfamilies and 69 genera were detected in Azerbaijan Cryptocephalinae. as a result of our investigations lasting many years. 5. Miner forms. The larvae of this group mine the Besides the species composition, we studied the plant leaves and are notable for their very bioecological features, economic importance, distribution flattened body and less developed eyes and legs. between biotopes and vertical belts, formation of the To this group belong Zeugophorinae, Hispinae and fauna and zoogeography of those as well. some Alticinae. It was found that the eggs of Chrysomelidae are 6. Intrastem forms. They dwell within the plant usually ovoid, rarer roundish or flattened. The eggs are stems and mine them. They have thin and milky, cream, dingy-grey, yellow, orange and reddish- elongated bodies. To this group belong some brown in colour. The chorion is usually smooth, Alticinae. sometimes with dense fine-grained sculpture. The egg sizes range from 0.6 mm to 4.8 mm. The eggs are laid The leaf-eating beetles of Azerbaijan are connected in single file or in small piles on the leaves of feeding with multifarious plant species. Thus, many of them are plants, in the soil, at the plant bases or scattered on the connected with Salicaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, soil surface. The development of most species lasts 8-10 Rosales, Cyperacea, Gramineae, Labiatae, Leguminosae days and that of some species of the genera Clytrinae and and Polygonaceae. They feed not only on leaves but also Cryptocephalinae up to 40-45 days. on the generative organs of plants, specifically on the blossoms. The subfamily Clytrinae is characterized by The larvae have 3 to 5 instars. The larva development different feeding habits of the imago and larva phase. The can last from several days (30-35) to 2 years. imagos feed on the vegetative organs of plants and the The literature (1,2) and our own data (3) concerning larvae feed on the vegetable detritus (4). the development and inhabitation conditions of the leaf- The leaf-eating beetles are divided into phytophages eating beetles in Azerbaijan enable us to divide them into (which can be polyphages, oligophages or monophages), 6 ecological groups as follows: phyto-saprophytes and saprophytes, the larvae of the 1. Aquatic forms. The larvae live in water on the second and third group feed on the vegetable detritus and plant roots and stems. They have sucking mouths on the animal food, respectively, or sometimes on both. and respiratory hooks. To this group belong all We also found that the leaf-eating beetles can be Donaciinae. divided into two ecologically different groups in terms of 2. Soil forms. The larvae live in soil on the plant roots the life-cycle features. The members of the first group and gnaw round small branches and adventitious are notable for the similar feeding and inhabitation habits rootlets. They are notable for their whitish colour. of the imagos and larvae. The hibernating stage is imago 42 N.MÜRZOEVA and the number of generations may be constant or Of the species detected in the Small Caucasus 20 were dependent on the climate conditions. In the second group abundant, 68 common and 83 rare. Nineteen species larvae and imagos have different inhabitation and feeding were not found in other areas of Azerbaijan (marked habits and the larva may be the hibernating stage. With with** in Table 2). respect to humidity, the leaf-eating beetles can be divided In Kura-Araks lowland 172 species of leaf-eating into the xerophilous, mesophilous and hydrophilous beetles were detected, of which 61 inhabit the Shirvan forms; however, this classification is not absolute, and the region, 102 Myl-Karabakh region and 129 Mugan-Salyan mentioned groups are changeable. region. Of the species detected in Kura-Araks lowland 24 Besides the above-mentioned points, we also studied were abundant, 70 common and 69 rare. Five species the connection of different groups of the leaf-eating were not found in other areas of Azerbaijan (marked beetles with particular sites and their feeding links as with*** in Table 2). well. Eight types of area where the leaf-eating beetles are In the Lenkoran region 262 species were detected, of most frequently found can be recognized in the regions which 49 were abundant 98 common and 114 rare. investigated. These are as follows: the wormwood semi- Fifty-five species were not found in other areas of deserts where 216 species are found; meadows and Azerbaijan (marked****in Table 2). meadow-steppes - 333; forests - 69; orchards - 41; vegetable plantations - 67; grain fields - 22; and fodder The number of the species of leaf-eating beetles herb plantations - 11. At present, on the basis of the depends on the one hand on the natural conditions and on materials collected in Azerbaijan, 164 species of leaf- the other hand on the type of agriculture.