NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 12 (2): 220-229 ©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2016 Article No.: e161201 http://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/index.html
Species composition and zoogeography of the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of raised bogs of Belarus
Gennadi SUSHKO
Vitebsk State University P. M. Masherov, Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection 210015Vitebsk, Belarus, E-mail: [email protected]
Received: 02. January 2016 / Accepted: 20. January 2016 / Available online: 30. March 2016 / Printed: December 2016
Abstract. A review of Staphylinidae known from peat bogs of Belarus is presented with data on their distribution at various sites. The staphylinid fauna, as reported here, includes 66 species, 33 genera, and 10 subfamilies. The results showed a low species richness of rove beetles and a high occurrence of a small number of species. The regional zoogeography and composition of rove beetles in the Belarusian peat bogs are examined, and species are grouped in five main zoogeographical complexes and 7 chorotypes, reflecting their distribution. Most species had a European (26.15 %), Holarctic (21.53 %) and also Sibero-European (18.46 %) distribution. The Belarusian peat bogs are important ecosystems for survival of boreal species, including cold adapted beetles occurring in more southern latitudes. These includ specialized inhabitants of peat bogs: Ischnosoma bergrothi, Gymnusa brevicornis, Euaesthetus laeviusculus and Atheta arctica. The high proportion of boreal and boreo-montane species in the recent Belarusian peat bogs fauna clearly reflects its great proximity to cold habitats.
Key words: Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, geographic range, raised bogs, Belarus.
Introduction the Central-East European forest zone and mixed forest zone. The north-western part of Belarus is Bogs are peat lands with a high water table and called Lake District, and it is the region where the low levels of nutrients (oligotrophic); they are al- majority of raised bogs is located (185 400 ha). The ways acidic and dominated by Sphagnum mosses. peat bogs were formed after the last glacial period Bogs also bear a number of characteristic erica- (Yakushko 1971). The postglacial Holocene histo- ceous plants, such as species of Vaccinium. Most ries and geographical positions of particular bogs bogs include patches of sedge (Carex sp.), and are reflected in the specific composition of their dwarf shrubs, or certain trees, which are often insect assemblages (Sushko 2014). They have high stunted. Raised bogs are an important element of conservation value for subarctic and boreal biota, landscapes south of the tree line between the esti- including cold-adapted species of insects and gla- mated latitudes 50◦ and 70◦ N, where they contain cial relicts in Central Europe (Sushko 2014). In the arctic and subarctic plants and specific inverte- context of global warming, a more determined at- brates. In this zone, peat bogs are usually frag- tempt to evaluate the fauna and its need for con- mented into habitat islands. The isolation of these servation is required. Raised bogs in Central bog islands is important for entomological re- Europe are heavily degraded as a consequence of search, as emphasized by Spitzer & Danks 2006. peat cutting, agricultural activities, and drainage. Environmental factors that influence the life of Only few remnants in near-natural conditions re- ground arthropods are, amongst others, pro- main in this geographical region. Furthermore, the nounced high amplitude of daily temperatures be- bog remnants are strongly fragmented and iso- cause of direct insolations and very low pH values lated. However, five countries of Central Europe, as a result of the cation exchange capacity of the including Belarus, have maintained more than Sphagnum moss. Owing to these conditions, peat 50% of their peatlands in a relatively natural con- bogs are inhabited by a specialized fauna called dition. Most other countries have lost between tyrphobionts (Peus 1928). Some are presumably 70% and 99% of their natural peatland systems. In relicts from early post-glacial times. As a result, total, 68.8% of Belarusian wetlands are protected peat bogs in southern boreal and temperate zones areas (Joosten 1994, Paavilainen & Päivanen 1995, form isolated and discrete patches of “edaphic Succow 2000, Bragg et al. 2003, Kozulin et al. forest tundra” and so are azonal or extrazonal eco- 2005). Therefore, study of the biodiversity of natu- systems relative to the surroundings (Spitzer & ral raised bogs is very important. Danks 2006). The Belarusian territory belongs to Staphylinids (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) are Species composition and zoogeography of the rove beetles of raised bogs of Belarus 221 one of the largest families of beetles with more Мossakowski 1971, Mossakowski et al. 2003, Dap- than 55,440 species described worldwide (Greben- kus & Tamutis 2008, Spungis 2008, and Sushko nikov & Newton 2009), and, thus, might give more 2012. The aim of the current work is to investigate information about biodiversity than any other ar- the species composition of the rove beetles of pris- thropod group. The majority of staphylinids is tine natural peat bogs in Belarus and to provide known as non-specific predators, feeding on vari- biogeographical analysis. ous soil arthropods such as nematodes, mites, Col- lembola, etc. Some species of Oxytelinae feed on various organic substances. Species of the genus Material and methods Bledius feed on algae. Species of the large genus Eusphalerum, which feed on pollen, are trophic The research was carried out between 1999 and 2014. My research was based on data from 12 raised bogs (Fig. 1) in specialists. It is evident that many staphylinid spe- western, northwestern and northern Belarus (Belarusian cies are mycetophagous (Newton 1984, Boháč 1999). Many staphylinids are living in nests of small mammals. Myrmecophilous and termitophi- lous staphylinids are highly specialized groups of predators eating ants and termites, respectively, or saprophages living on waste in or near ant or ter- mite hills. Some members of the genus Aleochara are known to be parasitoids of fly puparia (Fuld- ner 1960, Klimaszewski 1984, Balog et al. 2008). Staphylinid beetles in the Palaearctic region are found in all terrestrial habitats and in tidal zones of seas, with species representing many dif- ferent trophic affiliations. About half of species live in the litter and form an important part of the edaphon (Tikhomirova 1973, Harde & Lohse 1974, Laszlo 1983, Boháč 1993, Boháč 2007). Rove beetles are recognised as important components of Figure 1. Study area and location of sampling points. agroecosystems and are best known for their con- tribution to biological control as predators of ar- thropod pests (Balog & Markó 2007, Balog et al. Lake District). There were six main types of study sites: 1) 2008, Balog et al. 2009, Balog et al. 2010, Balog et lagg zone at the bog margin (Eriophorum vaginatum – al. 2011, Pálinkás et al. 2015). Sphagnum angustifolium); 2) pine bog (Pinus sylvestris – Eriophorum vaginatum – Ledum palustre – S. magellanicum + In the Belarusian fauna, approximately 710 S. angustifolium); 3) hummock-hollow complex (Rhyn- species are known (Alexandrovich et al. 1996). Its chospora alba – Sphagnum cuspidatum); 4) hummock-hollow representatives occur in a broad range of habitats complex (Eriophorum vaginatum – Oxycoccus palustris + and show diverse trophic specializations. Andromeda polifolia + Ledum palustre – Sphagnum magellani- Staphylinid and carabid beetles are sensitive to cum + S. angustifolium + S. fuscum); 5) dome (Eriophorum changes in the environment, and react quickly to vaginatum – Calluna vulgaris + Ledum palustre – Sphagnum increasing management intensity (Khotko 1993, fuscum + S. magellanicum); 6) burned bogs (Betula pubes- cens – Calluna vulgaris – Polytrichum strictum and Eriopho- Haila et al. 1994, Lindenmayer et al. 2000, rum vaginatum – Calluna vulgaris – Polytrichum strictum). Derunkov 2000). Staphylinid diversity not only in- Staphylinid beetles were collected annually using pitfall forms about the abiotic heterogeneity of the habi- traps from the end of April to the beginning of October. tat, but also about the heterogeneity produced by During this period, beetles were extracted from the traps animal species. Moreover, species composition twice a month. Plastic cups with an opening diameter of may well reflect peat bog history and ecological 72 mm and a volume of 250 ml were used as pitfall traps. condition. Unfortunately knowledge of their spe- A 4% formaldehyde water solution was used as a fixation liquid. The subfamilies and genera are listed according to cies composition in peat bogs is sparse. Very few the Catalog of the Staphylinidae (Herman & Smetana papers so far have been dedicated to the rove bee- 2001). Most common synonyms and subspecies names are tles of peat bogs. Information on peat bog included, especially the names used in the Belarusian Staphylinidae can be found in Peus 1928, Skwarra monograph (Alexandrovich et al. 1996). The species gen- 1929, Rabeler 1931, Roubal 1934, Maavara 1957, eral distribution was analyzed according to Lӧbl & 222 G. Sushko
Smetana 2004, Herman & Smetana 2001, Khotko 1993, website http://coleoptera.ksib.pl. The classification of chorotypes follows the one suggested by Taglianti et al. 1999. Abbreviations of chorotypes are as follows: HOL – Holarctic, PAL – Palearctic, ASE – Asiatic-European, WCPA –West-Central-Palearctic, WPA –West-Palearctic, SIE – Sibero-European, EUR – European.
Results
Species composition Figure 2. Zoogeographical complexes in the rove beetle Total recorded were 10 subfamilies, 33 genera and fauna of raised bogs in Belarus. 66 species of staphylinid beetles (Table 1). The staphylinid fauna of the raised bogs represents approximately 9.3% of the known fauna of the Re- public of Belarus. Three subfamilies with the high- est number of genera and species are Aleochari- nae, Staphylininae and Tachyporinae.
Table 1. Number of genera and species of staphylinid beetles recorded from the raised bogs of Belarus.
Subfamilies Genera Species Omaliinae 2 2 Pselaphinae 1 1 Tachyporinae 6 15 Figure 3. Chorotypes in the rove beetle fauna of raised Aleocharinae 8 12 bogs in Belarus. Scaphidiinae 1 1 Oxytelinae 1 1 Steninae 1 3 spread species associated with the tundra and Euaesthetinae 1 1 taiga zones and high-altitude zones of mountains. Paederinae 2 4 These included Sibero-European species and also Staphylininae 10 26 European species such as Philonthus furcifer, Ph. Total 33 66 spinipes, Gyrohypnus atratus. In the Holarctic group, some of the species are characterized as Zoogeographical composition circum-boreal. It is Philonthus atratus, Ph. cognatus, According to their current distribution, the identi- Omalium caesum, Acidota crenata, Bolitobius analis, fied species known from the Belarusian peat bogs Tachyporus chrysomelinus, Tachinus rufipes, Gym- can be classified in 7 chorotypes (HOL, PAL, ASE, nusa brevicornis. The high proportion of boreal and WCPA, SIE, WPA and EUR), and grouped into boreo-mountain species, in recent Belarusian peat five zoogeographical complexes (Holarctic, bogs fauna, clearly reflect its great affiliation to Palearctic, Asiatic-European, West-Central- cold environments. Some are presumably relict Palearctic and West-Palearctic) (Fig. 2). The com- from early post-glacial times. plexes of the Palearctic species are in accordance with the maps of Gorodkov 1974. The distribution Species review analysis of the rove beetles in the peat bogs reveals Staphylinidae Latreille, 1802 that the range of chorotypes is rather wide. Most Omaliinae MacLeay, 1825 collected species had a European (26.15 %), Omaliini MacLeay, 1825 Holarctic (21.53 %) and also Sibero-European Omalium Gravenhorst, 1802 (18.46 %) distribution pattern. Other species were Omalium caesum Gravenhorst, 1806 distributed in Eurasia and North Africa (12.30 %), Remarks: Rare species. It occurs in open bogs Europe and North Africa (12.30 %), Eurasia (6.15 with Carex sp. and Eriophorum vaginatum. The spe- %) and West-Central part of Palearctic (3.07 %) cies is known from peat bogs of Finland (Renkon- (Fig. 3). By the latitudinal component of the range, nen 1938) and the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934). the staphylinid complex includes especially wide- Distribution: HOL. Species composition and zoogeography of the rove beetles of raised bogs of Belarus 223
Acidota Stephens, 1829 Bolitobius castaneus (Stephens, 1832) = analis Acidota crenata (Fabricius, 1792) auct. nec (Fabricius, 1787) Remarks: These species were recorded con- Remarks: It constantly occurs in a low abun- stantly in low numbers, in open bog habitats. It is dance in pine and burned bogs. The species is known from peat bogs of Finland (Renkonnen known from peat bogs of Germany (Peus 1928, 1938), Poland (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl), the Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Mossakowski et al. Czech Republic (Roubal 1934), Germany (Rabeler 2003, Spungis 2008), Estonia (Maavara 1957), 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Mossakowski et Finland (Renkonnen 1938), and Kaliningrad re- al. 2003, Spungis 2008), Lithuania (Dapkus & Ta- gion (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, Mossakowski et al. mutis 2008), Estonia (Maavara 1957), and Kalinin- 2003). grad region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929). Distribution: HOL. Distribution: HOL. Parabolitobius Li, Zhao & Sakai, 2000 Pselaphinae Latreille, 1802 Parabolitobius formosus (Gravenhorst, 1806) Brachyglutini Raffray, 1904 Remarks: This rare species was recorded only Rybaxis Saulcy, 1876 from the burned bog. It is known from the peat Rybaxis longicornis (Leach, 1815) bogs of Latvia (Mossakowski et al. 2003, Spungis Remarks: Very rare with only one record from 2008), and Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Mossa- the hummock. kowski et al. 2003). Distribution: WPA. Distribution: EUR. Tachyporinae MacLeay 1825 Parabolitobius inclinans (Gravenhorst, 1806) Mycetoporini Thomson, 1859 = Bolitobiini Horn, Remarks: This rare species was collected from 1877 pine and burned bogs. Ischnosoma Stephens, 1829 Distribution: WPA. Ischnosoma bergrothi Hellen, 1925 Tachyporini MacLeay, 1825 Remarks: This tyrphophilous species was re- Sepedophilus Gistel, 1856 = Conosoma auct. nec corded to have constantly low numbers in the Kraatz, 1857 open bog habitats and pine bogs. It is distributed Sepedophilus pedicularius (Gravenhorst, 1802) in peat bogs and heath in Poland Remarks: This eurybiontic species was widely (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl), Germany distributed but not abundant on the hummocks (Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Spungis 2008), Esto- with dwarf shrubs. It has been recorded from peat nia (Mossakowski et al. 2003), and Finland bogs of Germany (Rabeler 1931) and Finland (Renkonnen 1938). (Renkonnen 1938). Distribution: SIE. Distribution: PAL. Ischnosoma lonngicorne Maklin, 1847 Sepedophilus testaceus (Fabricius, 1792) Remarks: This species was low in abundance Remarks: It constantly occurred in low abun- in open habitats and in the burned bog. The data dance in the open bogs with dwarf shrubs, in the were from peat bogs of Finland (Renkonnen 1938), open bogs with cotton grass, and in the burned Latvia, Estonia, and Kaliningrad region (Russia) bog. The species has been recorded from the peat (Mossakowski et al. 2003). bogs of Finland (Renkonnen 1938). Distribution: WCPA. Distribution: HOL. Ischnosoma splendidum (Gravenhorst, 1806) Tachyporus Gravenhorst, 1802 Remarks: These are the common species in Tachyporus chrysomelinus (Linnaeus, 1758) open and pine bogs. The eurybiontic species has Remarks: Widespread, but certainly not abun- been mainly recorded from heath lands and raised dant in the open bogs with dwarf shrubs, in the bogs of Finland (Renkonnen 1938), Poland pine bogs and in the burned birch bog. The species (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl), Germany (Rabeler is known from peat bogs of Germany (Peus 1928, 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Mossakowski et Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Mossa- al. 2003, Spungis 2008), Estonia (Maavara 1957, kowski et al. 2003, Spungis 2008), Kaliningrad re- Mossakowski et al. 2003), and Kaliningrad region gion (Russia) (Skwarra 1929), Finland (Renkonnen (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, Mossakowski et al. 2003). 1938), and the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934). Distribution: PAL. Distribution: HOL. Bolitobius Leach, 1819 = Bryocharis Lacordaire, Tachyporus hypnorum (Fabricius, 1775) 1835 Remarks: This is a common species collected 224 G. Sushko in all habitats. It is known to appear in peat bogs Oxypoda Mannerheim, 1830 from Germany (Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Oxypoda funebris Kraatz, 1856 = laticollis (Thom- Latvia (Mossakowski et al. 2003, Spungis 2008), son, 1871) Estonia (Maavara 1957), Finland (Renkonnen Remarks: Very rare species recorded in pine 1938), Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, bogs (Sushko et al. 2008). It is known from peat Mossakowski et al. 2003), and the Czech Republic bogs of Finland (Renkonnen 1938). (Roubal 1934). Distribution: EUR. Distribution: PAL. Phloeopora Erichson, 1837 = Phloedroma Kraatz, Tachyporus nitidulus (Fabricius, 1781) 1856 Remarks: This is a rare species recorded from Phloeopora concolor (Kraatz, 1856) open bogs. It is known from peat bogs of the Ka- Remarks: This very rare species was collected liningrad region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, Mossa- in open bog (Sushko et al. 2008). kowski et al. 2003) and Latvia (Mossakowski et al. Distribution: EUR. 2003, Spungis 2008). Athetini Casey, 1910 Distribution: HOL. Atheta Thomson, 1858 Tachyporus pusillus Gravenhorst, 1806. = macrop- Atheta aeneicollis (Scharp, 1869) = pertyi auct. nec terus Stephens, 1832 (Heer, 1839) Remarks: Widely distributed, but not abun- Remarks: Very rare species that was recorded dant in open bogs with dwarf shrubs. This species from open bog with dwarf shrubs (Sushko et al. is known from the peat bogs of Estonia (Maavara 2008). 1957). Distribution: WPA. Distribution: ASE. Atheta arctica (Thomson, 1856) Tachinus Gravenhorst, 1802 Remarks: A rare species that has been col- Tachinus laticollis Gravenhorst, 1802 lected from open bogs (Sushko et al. 2008). It pre- Remarks: This rare species is collected from fers peat bogs (tyrphophil) (Freude et al. 1974). In open bogs with dwarf shrubs. Known from peat Poland, Atheta arctica occurs also in forests and bogs of Germany (Rabeler 1931), Finland coastal dunes (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl). In Rus- (Renkonnen 1938), and the Kaliningrad region sia (Moscow region), it has been reported by Se- (Russia) (Mossakowski et al. 2003). menov (2007) from mesotrophic bogs and fens. Distribution: SIE. Distribution: SIE. Tachinus schneideri Luze, 1900 Atheta fungii (Gravenhorst, 1806) Remarks: Very rare species, which is collected Remarks: Very rare species. It was collected in only from open bog with dwarf shrubs (Sushko et the pine bog. Known from peat bogs of Germany al. 2008). (Мossakowski 1971), Finland (Renkonnen 1938), Distribution: SIE. and Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, Tachinus signatus Gravenhorst, 1802 = rufipes Mossakowski et al. 2003). auct. nec (Linnaeus, 1758) Distribution: HOL. Remarks: Common species in the open bogs. It Atheta strandiella Brundin, 1954 is known from peat bogs of Germany (Rabeler Remarks: It is a rare species collected in open 1931), the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934), and Ka- bogs (Sushko et al. 2008). The species has been liningrad region (Russia) (Mossakowski et al. mainly recorded in Sphagnum bogs, but occurred 2003). in carrion (Freude et al. 1974). It is known from the Distribution: HOL. peat bogs of Latvia and Kaliningrad region (Rus- Aleocharinae Fleming, 1821 sia) (Mossakowski et al. 2003). Aleocharini Fleming, 1821 Distribution: EUR. Aleochara Gravenhorst, 1802 Lomechusini Fleming, 1821 = Myrmedoniini Aleochara bipustulata (Linnaeus, 1761) Thomson, 1867 Remarks: This eurybiontic species is very rare Drusilla Leach, 1819 = Astilbus Dillwyn, 1829 and collected only from pine bogs. It has been re- Drusila canaliculata (Fabricius, 1787) corded from the peat bogs of Finland (Renkonnen Remarks: The most common species in all 1938). habitats. This species is known from peat bogs of Distribution: HOL. Germany (Peus 1928, Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski Oxypodini Thomson 1859 1971), Latvia (Mossakowski et al. 2003, Spungis Species composition and zoogeography of the rove beetles of raised bogs of Belarus 225
2008), Lithuania (Dapkus & Tamutis 2008), Estonia Distribution: HOL. (Mossakowski et al. 2003, Maavara 1957), Finland Oxytelinae Fleming, 1821 (Renkonnen 1938), and the Kaliningrad region Oxytelini Fleming, 1821 (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, Mossakowski et al. 2003). Anotylus Thomson, 1859 Distribution: ASE. Anotylus rugosus (Fabricius, 1775) Zyras Stephens, 1835 Remarks: Rare species, which was collected Zyras cognatus (Märkel, 1842) from the open bogs. It is known from peat bogs of Remarks: Widely distributed, but not abun- Germany (Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski 1971), dant in the open bogs with dwarf shrubs and Lithuania (Dapkus & Tamutis 2008), Estonia burned sites. The species has been recorded from (Mossakowski et al. 2003), Finland (Renkonnen peat bogs of Germany, Latvia, Estonia, and Kalin- 1938), Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929), ingrad region (Russia) (Mossakowski et al. 2003). and the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934). Distribution: EUR. Distribution: PAL. Zyras collaris (Paykull, 1800) Steninae MacLeay, 1825 Remarks: Constantly occurred in a low abun- Stenus Latreille, 1797 dance in open bogs. The species is known from Stenus biguttatus (Linnaeus, 1758) peat bogs of Germany (Peus 1928, Rabeler 1931, Remarks: Widespread, but local in sphagnum Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Mossakowski et al. carpet on lakeshores and hollows and also in 2003, Spungis 2008), Estonia (Maavara 1957, Mos- burned sites. sakowski et al. 2003), and Finland (Renkonnen Distribution: ASE. 1938). Stenus lustrator Erichson, 1839 Distribution: WPA. Remarks: Very rare species collected in the Homolotini Heer, 1839 pine bog. It is known from peat bogs of Germany Bolitochara Mannerheim, 1830 (Peus 1928), Latvia, Kaliningrad region (Russia) Bolitochara pulchra (Gravenhorst, 1806) (Mossakowski et al. 2003), Estonia (Maavara 1957), Remarks: Very rare species. It was collected in Finland (Renkonnen 1938), and the Czech Repub- the open bog. This species has been recorded from lic (Roubal 1934). the peat bogs of Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Mos- Distribution: SIE. sakowski et al. 2003). Stenus similis (Herbst, 1784) Distribution: SIE. Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Gymnusini Heer, 1839 open and pine bogs. The species has been re- Gymnusa Gravenhorst, 1806 corded from the peat bogs of Kaliningrad region Gymnusa brevicornis (Paykull, 1800) (Russia) (Skwarra 1929) and the Czech Republic Remarks: These species was widespread, but (Roubal 1934). not abundant in open bogs with dwarf shrubs and Distribution: WPA. burned sites. Usually found in sphagnum carpet Euaesthetinae Thomson, 1859 (Freude et al. 1974). It prefers peat bogs (tyrpho- Euaesthetini Thomson, 1859 phil) (Peus 1928). In Russia (Moscow region), it Euaesthetus Gravenhorst, 1806 was reported by Semenov (2007) from mesotro- Euaesthetus laeviusculus Mannerheim, 1844 phic bogs and fens. This species is known from Remarks: Very rare species collected in open peat bogs of Germany (Peus 1928), the Czech Re- habitats (Sushko et al. 2008). These tyrphophilous public (Roubal 1934), Estonia (Mossakowski et al. species also occur in shores of water bodies and in 2003), Finland (Renkonnen 1938) and Poland meadows (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl). It is known (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl). from the peat bogs of Poland Distribution: HOL. (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl), Germany (Peus 1928, Scaphidiinae Latreille, 1806 (Scaphidiidae) Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Mossakowski et al. Scaphidiini Latreille, 1806 2003, Spungis 2008), and Finland (Renkonnen Scaphidium Olivier, 1790 1938). Scaphidium quadrimaculatum Olivier, 1790 Distribution: SIE. Remarks: Very rare species, which was re- Paederinae Fleming, 1821 corded in decaying wood and leaf litter in burned Paederini Fleming, 1821 birch forests. It is known from the peat bogs of Ka- Lathrobium Gravenhorst, 1802 liningrad region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929). Lathrobium brunnipes (Fabricius, 1792) 226 G. Sushko
Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in bogs of Finland (Renkonnen 1938), Kaliningrad open and pine bogs, and burned bogs with birch region (Russia) (Mossakowski et al. 2003), and the forests. It has been recorded from peat bogs of Czech Republic (Roubal 1934). Germany (Rabeler 1931), Finland (Renkonnen Distribution: EUR. 1938), the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934), Latvia, Othiini Thomson, 1859 Estonia, and Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Mossa- Othius Stephens, 1829 kowski et al. 2003). Othius subuliformis Stephens, 1833 = myrmecophi- Distribution: EUR. lus Kiesenwetter, 1843 Lathrobium fovulum Stephens, 1833 Remarks: These are sporadic species recorded Remarks: Very rare species, which were col- in the pine bogs. Known from peat bogs of Ger- lected in birch forest on the burned bog. It is re- many (Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Finland corded from peat bogs of Germany (Peus 1928), (Renkonnen 1938), Kaliningrad region (Russia) the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934), and Finland (Skwarra 1929, Mossakowski et al. 2003), and the (Renkonnen 1938). Czech Republic (Roubal 1934). Distribution: EUR. Distribution: EUR. Lathrobium geminum Kraatz, 1857 = boreale Staphylinini Latreille, 1802 Hochhuth, 1851 = volgense Hochhuth, 1851 Bisnius Stephens, 1829 Remarks: These highly rare species occur in Bisnius subuliformis (Gravenhorst, 1802) = fuscus pine forests and in heather in burned bogs. It has (Gravenhorst, 1802) nec (Gmelin, 1790) been recorded from the peat bogs of Kaliningrad Remarks: Very rare species, which was col- region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929). lected in the heath on burned bog. Distribution: SIE. Distribution: EUR. Ochthephilum Stephens, 1829 = Cryptobium Man- Philonthus Stephens, 1829 = Spatulonthus Totten- nerheim, 1830 ham, 1955 Ochthephilum fracticorne (Paykull, 1800) Philonthus addendus Sharp, 1867 Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Remarks: Very rare species, which was col- the open and pine bogs, burned sites. The species lected in the open bog with dwarf shrubs. are known from peat bogs of Germany (Peus 1928, Distribution: ASE. Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Mossa- Philonthus atratus (Gravenhorst, 1802) kowski et al. 2003, Spungis 2008), Estonia (Mossa- Remarks: Very rare species, that was collected kowski et al. 2003, Maavara 1957), Finland in the open bog with dwarf shrubs. It is known (Renkonnen 1938), and Kaliningrad region (Rus- from peat bogs of Germany (Rabeler 1931). sia) (Skwarra 1929). Distribution: HOL. Distribution: SIE. Philonthus carbonarius (Gravenhorst, 1802) = var- Staphylininae Latreille, 1802 ius (Gyllenhal, 1810) Xantholinini Erichson, 1839 Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Gyrohypnus Leach, 1819 the open bogs. Known from peat bogs of Germany Gyrohypnus atratus (Heer, 1839) (Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Kaliningrad Remarks: Very rare species collected in the region (Russia) (Mossakowski et al. 2003, Skwarra open bog. 1929) and Estonia (Maavara 1957). Distribution: EUR. Distribution: SIE. Xantholinus Dejean, 1821 Philonthus cognatus Stephens, 1832 = fuscipennis Xantholinus linearis (Olivier, 1795) (Mannerheim, 1830) nec (Block, 1799) Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Remarks: This common species was found in the open bogs. The species has been recoded from all bog habitats. Recorded from peat bogs of Ger- peat bogs of Germany (Peus 1928, Rabeler 1931, many (Rabeler 1931, Мossakowski 1971), Estonia Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Spungis 2008), and (Mossakowski et al. 2003), and Latvia (Spungis the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934). 2008). Distribution: PAL. Distribution: HOL. Xantholinus tricolor (Fabricius, 1787) = meyeri Philonthus decorus (Gravenhorst, 1802) Drugmand, 1994 Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in the open and pine bogs. The species is known the open bogs. The species is known from peat from peat bogs of Germany (Rabeler 1931), and Species composition and zoogeography of the rove beetles of raised bogs of Belarus 227 the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934). Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Distribution: EUR. open and pine bogs and birch forests on burned Philonthus furcifer Renkonen, 1937 bogs. The species is known from heaths and peat Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in bogs of Poland (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl), Ger- pine bogs and boundary parts of the bog. many (Мossakowski 1971) and Latvia (Mossa- Distribution: EUR. kowski et al. 2003). Philonthus laminatus (Creutzer, 1799) Distribution: EUR. Remarks: Rare species. Collected from the Staphylinus Linnaeus, 1758 pine bogs and heath on the burned bogs. Staphylinus dimidiaticornis Gemminger, 1851 = Distribution: WPA; Europe, Caucasus, and parumtomentosus Stein, 1903 Asia Minor. Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Philonthus marginatus (Strøm, 1768) open and pine bogs, burned sites. Remarks: Rare species. Collected from the Distribution: EUR. pine bogs and birch forests on burned sites of Staphylinus erythropterus Linnaeus, 1758 bogs. It has been recorded from peat bogs of Remarks: Common species, collected in open Finland (Renkonnen 1938), and Kaliningrad re- and pine bogs, also burned sites. It is known from gion (Russia) (Mossakowski et al. 2003). peat bogs of Germany (Rabeler 1931, Distribution: EUR. Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Spungis 2008), Estonia Philonthus nigrita (Gravenhorst, 1806) (Mossakowski et al. 2003), Finland (Renkonnen Remarks: Common species in open and pine 1938), and Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Skwarra bogs. It is known from peat bogs of Poland 1929, Mossakowski et al. 2003). (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl), Germany Distribution: HOL. (Мossakowski 1971), Latvia (Spungis 2008), Esto- Ocypus Leach, 1819 nia (Mossakowski et al. 2003), Finland (Renkonnen Ocypus fuscatus (Gravenhorst, 1802) 1938), the Czech Republic (Roubal 1934), and Ka- Remarks: Common species in all habitats. Re- liningrad region (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, Mossa- corded from peat bogs of Germany (Мossakowski kowski et al. 2003). 1971), Latvia (Mossakowski et al. 2003, Spungis Distribution: WCPA. 2008), Lithuania (Dapkus & Tamutis 2008), Esto- Philonthus spinipes Sharp, 1867 nia, and Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Mossa- Remarks: Very rare species that was collected kowski et al. 2003). in the open bog with cotton grass. Distribution: SIE. Distribution: This species is native to South- Ocypus nitens (Schrank, 1781) = nero (Faldermann, east Asia and recorded in Europe (spread and ac- 1835) = similis (Fabricius, 1792) nec (Herbst, 1784) climated). Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Ontholestes Ganglbauer, 1895 open and pine bogs, burned sites. Ontholestes murinus (Linnaeus, 1758) Distribution: WPA. Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in Ocypus picipennis (Fabricius, 1792) carrion, dung, and rotting fungus. Remarks: Very rare species. This species was Distribution: PAL. recorded in the birch forest on burned bogs. It is Ontholestes tesselatus (Geoffroy, 1785) known from peat bogs of the Czech Republic Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant in (Roubal 1934). carrion and dung. Distribution: PAL. Distribution: SIE. Quedius Stephens, 1829 Platydracus Thomson, 1858 Quedius fuliginosus (Gravenhorst, 1802) Platydracus fulvipes (Scopoli, 1763) Remarks: Rare species. Collected from the Remarks: Common species in pine bogs and pine bogs. It is known from peat bogs of Germany birch forests on the burned bogs. It is known from (Rabeler 1931), Latvia, Kaliningrad region (Russia) peat bogs of Poland (http://coleoptera.ksib.pl), (Mossakowski et al. 2003), and the Czech Republic Latvia, Estonia, Kaliningrad region (Russia) (Mos- (Roubal 1934). sakowski et al. 2003), and Lithuania (Dapkus & Distribution: PAL. Tamutis 2008). Quedius molochinus (Gravenhorst, 1806) = pici- Distribution: SIE. pennis (Paykull, 1800) nec (Fabricius, 1793) Platydracus latebricola (Gravenhorst, 1806) Remarks: Widespread, but not abundant. Col- 228 G. Sushko lected from pine bogs and birch forests on burned arctic. bogs. Recorded from peat bogs of Finland The Belarusian peat bogs have important habi- (Renkonnen 1938), the Czech Republic (Roubal tats for the survival of the boreal species, includ- 1934), Germany (Мossakowski 1971), Lithuania ing cold-adapted beetles from the far north in (Dapkus & Tamutis 2008), Latvia, Estonia (Mossa- more southern latitudes. By the latitudinal com- kowski et al. 2003), and the Kaliningrad region ponent of the range, the staphylinid complex in- (Russia) (Skwarra 1929, Mossakowski et al. 2003). cludes especially widespread species associated Distribution: EUR. with the tundra and taiga zones and high-altitude zones of mountains. I found that the staphylinid fauna of the Belarusian peat bogs includes 66 spe- Discussion cies, 33 genera, and 10 subfamilies. The results showed a low species richness of rove beetles and The results showed a low species richness of rove a high occurrence of a small number of species. beetles and a high occurrence of a small number of The regional composition and zoogeography of species, such as Ischnosoma splendidum, Tachyporus the rove beetles in the Belarusian peat bogs were hypnorum, Tachinus signatus, Philonthus cognatus, examined, and the species were grouped into five Ph. decorus, Ph. nigrita, Platydracus fulvipes, main zoogeographical complexes and 7 choro- Staphylinus erythropterus, Ocypus fuscatus and Dru- types reflecting their distribution. Most species sila canaliculata (15.15 % of total species number). had a European (26.15 %), Holarctic (21.53 %) or This distribution with a few highly abundant spe- Sibero-European (18.46 %) distribution. The Bela- cies and many low abundance species is common rusian peat bogs have important habitats for the on raised bogs in Europe. They are known as ex- survival of boreal species, including cold-adapted treme habitats for plants and certain groups of beetles from the far north and distributed in more animals (Mossakowski et al. 2003, Spitzer & Danks southern latitudes. These included specialized in- 2006, Dapkus & Tamutis 2008, Sushko 2012). Most habitants of peat bogs, like Ischnosoma bergrothi, collected species (74.24 %) are known from peat Gymnusa brevicornis, Euaesthetus laeviusculus, and bogs of central, eastern and northern European Atheta arctica. The high proportion of boreal and countries. Four species were specialized inhabi- boreo-montane species in the recent Belarusian tants of peat bogs. These included tyrphophils: peat bogs fauna clearly reflects its adaptation to Ischnosoma bergrothi, Gymnusa brevicornis and cold environments. Euaesthetus laeviusculus (Peus 1928, Mossakowski 1971, Mossakowski et al. 2003, Spitzer & Danks 2006). They are more common in bogs rather than in adjacent habitats (Spitzer & Danks 2006). An- Acknowledgements Many thanks to N. Kuznetsova (Vitebsk Medical State University, Belarus) and I. other probably tyrphobiontic species is Atheta arc- Solodovnikov (Vitebsk State University, Belarus) for tica, which was exclusively found in peat bogs in taxonomic assistance in determining or verifying various Belarus. Atheta arctica, Ischnosoma bergrothi and species of rove beetles, and to J. Klimaszewski (Natural Euaesthetus laeviusculus are distributed predomi- Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Canada) for nantly in northern and central Europe and in Sibe- linguistic help. ria. Gymnusa brevicornis is widespread in central and northern Europ,e and in eastern North Amer- ica it is known from isolated records. 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