Light Trap Catch of Beetle Species (Coleoptera) in Connection with the Chemical Air Pollutants

Abstract

In this study light-trap catch of three beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) species were examined in connection with the everyday function of the chemical air pollutants (SO₂, NO, NO₂, NO_x, CO, PM10, O₃). Between 2004 and 2012 light-traps were operating in Fejér County, Hungary, Europe). The data were processed following species: Rhizotrogus aequinoctialis Herbst, 1790; Rhizotrogus aestivus Olivier, 1789; Melolontha melolontha Linnaeus, 1758. The data from different years were combined. The number of the chemical air pollutants and the caught beetles were assigned into classes. The results obtained were plotted. We determined the regression equations, and the levels of significance. We found that the behaviour of the studied beetle species can be divided only into two types: if the air pollution increases, the catch increases or decreases.