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One new state record and two range extensions are documented in California for three species of adventive European carabid species: Harpalus affinis (Schrank, 1781) and Amara apricaria (Paykull, 1790) and Agonum muelleri (Herbst, 1784), respectively.

In a 3-year comparison of non-Bt untreated control maize, maize treated with the soil insecticide tefluthrin, and transgenic Cry3Bb Bt-maize (Bt) plots, average carabid catch per pitfall trap did not vary significantly except in 2001 when average catch in the insecticide treatment was lower than the average catches in the Bt and control treatment. Analyzing total number of carabids captured, in each individual year except 2003 and for all years summed, control plots exceeded Bt plots, and Bt plots exceeded insecticide plots in 2001 and all years summed. Fewer, Harmonia axyridis, a common coccinellid, were observed in Bt plots than in control maize plots. In laboratory assays, prey consumption for the most common carabid species, Agonum muelleri and Poecilus lucublandus, did not differ between treatments. The life span of H. axyridis fed on field-collected aphids from Bt was reduced by 38% versus those fed aphids from control maize. ELISA indicated Bt proteins were passed from the plant to the predator via the aphid. This is the first reported negative impact of Cry3Bb Bt-maize on carabid activity-densities in the field; and one of the first mechanistic examples of a negative indirect tritrophic level impact of a Cry3Bb Bt-maize on a coccinellid.

We consider the possibility of an extensive invasional meltdown occurring in central North America involving eleven Eurasian species. The scenario begins with the potential co-facilitation between the European earthworm Lumbricus terrestris and European buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica. Once introduced, European buckthorn has served as the overwintering host for two important invasive crop pests, oat crown rust, Puccinea coronata and the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines. The spread of R. cathartica itself may have been aided by seed dispersal by the European starling, Sturnus vulgaris, and the presence of L. terrestris has likely facilitated the invasion of Bipalium adventitium, an Asian predatory flatworm that specializes on earthworms. Beyond this, the soybean aphid is consumed by a number of introduced species, including the lady beetle Harmonia axyridis, the ground beetle Agonum muelleri and the parasitoid Aphelinus certus. We hypothesize that the presence of soybean aphid increases regional abundances of these species. We discuss both the evidence for this multi-species invasional meltdown scenario and potential implications of meltdown dynamics for invasive species management. The particular management issues that we discuss are: (1) opportunities for managing multiple invasive species simultaneously by targeting facilitator species, and (2) implications of meltdown dynamics for biological control introductions against the soybean aphid.

Field-collectedAgonum muelleri(Herbst) adults were videotaped to assess their ability to climb soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr. (Fabaceae)) plants. All individuals climbed up and down soybean plants multiple times.Agonum muellerispent from 12.5 ± 3.4% to 54.1 ± 11.3% of their time on soybean plants. CagedA. muelleriadults on plants infested with soybean aphids,Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reduced the number of apterous adults. The presence of predators had an indirect effect on the density of nymphal aphids by reducing the numbers of adult aphids.Agonum muelleri, an abundant carabid in soybean fields, readily climbs soybean plants to feed on soybean aphids.

Carabid beetles were pitfall-trapped in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., fields hosting populations of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in central New York state in July and August 2004 and 2006. Carabids were collected from five fields located in three counties in 2004 and from two fields both located at the same farm in 2006. In total, adults of 60 carabid species were collected, 10 of which represent introductions from Europe. Agonum muelleri (Herbst), a Palearctic native, was the dominant carabid species both years, a role not previously reported in U.S. carabid assemblages. Both years, A. muelleri was the most abundantly trapped species, and it was collected in more than half of the pitfall traps. The majority of carabid individuals trapped, including A. muelleri, belonged to species overwintering as adults. The most common larval overwinterer, the European native Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger), made up only 6.0% (2004) and 5.5% (2006) of the total carabids ...

Seven species of ground beetles, introduced into North America from Europe, were selected for a distribution study in the province of Quebec, Canada. Their distribution was determined with the specimens in three Canadian insect collections: the Lyman Entomological Museum (LEM), the Ouellet-Robert Collection at the Universite de Montreal (QMOR) and the Canadian National Collection in Ottawa (CNC). Current distributions were compared to that reported by Larochelle (1975). Harpalus affinis (Schrank), Agonum muelleri (Herbst), Clivina fossor L., Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) and Carabus nemoralis Muller have a similar distribution to what is reported by Larochelle (1975). Harpalus rufipes DeGeer has possibly expanded its range south from Gaspesie Region (eastern Quebec) or north from eastern United States towards Montreal. Bembidion obtusum Audinet-Serville has probably expanded its range from Ontario into southern Quebec.

Agonum muelleri (Herbst, 1784) References. Agonum muelleri: Hieke 1981: 83 (��ar Planina: Popova ��apka); Hieke & Wrase 1988: 85; Drovenik & Peks 1994: 78; Drovenik & Peks 1999: 91; Gu��orguiev 1998: 42 (Kitka). Material studied. Struga, X.1924, 1 s., leg. N. Nezlobinsky (NMNSS); Struga, III.1927, 1 s., leg. N. Nezlobinsky (NMNSS); Jablanica, IX.1931, 1 s., leg. N. Nezlobinsky (NMNSS); ���Skopje, 14.03. 1942, K. Tule��kov���, 1 s. (MMNH); �����ar Planina: Cerepa��ina, 26 ��� 27.07.1952, T. Petkovski���, 1 s. (MMNH); ���Skopje: Ra��če, 0 3.10. 1952, T. Petkovski���, 1 s. (MMNH); �����ar Planina: Lisec, 0 9.09. 1954, M. Petković���, 2 s. (MMNH); �����ar Planina: Ljuboten, 17.09. 1954, M. Petković���, 1 s. (MMNH); �����ar Planina: Popova ��apka, 31.05. 1980, F. Hieke���, 1 s. (MMNH); ��� Jugoslavien Mazedonien leg. F. Hieke��� / �����ar planina Popova ��apka 1800���2000 31.5.1980 ���, 1 s. (MNHUB); ���Yu Makedonija Kosovrasti 1990 Debar (Radika) 17.VI. B. Drovenik leg.���, 1 s. (NMW); Karadžica, Patishka Reka, beech forest, 1 s., 12.09. 2010, leg. S. Hristovski (cSH). Distribution. 0 2, 12, 19 a, 30, 32, 34 a, 76., Published as part of Hristovski, Slav��o & Gu��orguiev, Borislav, 2015, Annotated catalogue of the carabid beetles of the Republic of Macedonia (Coleoptera: Carabidae), pp. 1-190 in Zootaxa 4002 (1) on page 119, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4002.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/238945, {"references":["Hieke, F. (1981) Die Carabidae einer Sammelreise nach Mazedonien. Acta Musei Macedonici Scientiarum Naturalium, 16, 71 - 101.","Hieke, F. & Wrase, D. W. (1988) Faunistik der Laufkafer Bulgariens. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift N. F., 35 (1 - 3), 1 - 171, Berlin.","Drovenik, B. & Peks, H. (1994) Catalogus faunae Carabiden der Balkanlander. Schwanfelder Coleopterologische Mitteilungen, Sonderheft I, 1 - 103. [Schwanfeld, Germany]","Drovenik, B. & Peks, H. (1999) Catalogus faunae Carabiden der Balkanlander (Coleoptera, Carabidae). Schwanfelder Coleopterologische Mitteilungen, Sonderheft I (Schwanfeld), 2 Auflage, 1 - 123. [Schwanfeld, Germany]","Gueorguiev, B. V. (1998) Ground-beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) collected by Bulgarian zoologists in the Republic of Macedonia. Historia naturalis bulgarica, 9, 35 - 51."]}

Responses of temperature sensitive (cold) cells from the antenna of ground beetles (tribe Platynini) were compared in species with different ecological preferences and daily activity rhythms. Action potential rates were characterized at various temperatures (ranges 23-39 degrees C) and during rapid changes in it (Deltat=0.5-15 degrees C). The stationary firing frequencies were nearly twice as high in eurythermic open field ground beetles Agonum muelleri and Anchomenus dorsalis (firing rates ranging from 22 to 47imp/s) than in a stenothermic forest species Platynus assimilis. In the eurythermic species, the firing rate did not significantly depend on temperature (Anchomenus dorsalis range of 23-27 degrees C and Agonum muelleri range of 23-33 degrees C) but plots of firing rate versus temperature showed rapid declines when lethally high temperatures were approached. In contrast, a nearly linear decline of the firing rate/temperature curve was observed in Platynus assimilis. Responses to rapid temperature decreases were also considerably higher in eurythermic species. Both the peak frequency of the initial burst (maximum 420-650Hz) as well as the sustained discharge in the first 4s of the response were higher than in Platynus assimilis. Long silent periods, lasting up to several seconds, that occurred at the beginning of the response to rapid warming were significantly shorter in Agonum muelleri and Anchomenus dorsalis compared to Platynus assimilis. These findings suggest that the responses of thermoreceptors to temperature changes may be correlated with specific ecological preferences.

Intercropping has potential as an alternative to chemical methods of pest control, and one of its effects may be to provide a favourable environment for beneficial invertebrates, including polyphagous predators such as carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). This paper compares pitfall catches of carabids from clover-undersown cabbages and cabbages which were kept weed free by hoeing. There were four undersowing treatments consisting of two clover seed rates combined with high and low sward heights. Two species of carabid, Pterostichus melanarius and Loricera pilicornis, were collected in higher numbers from the undersown plots, but four species, Bembidion tetracolum, Trechus quadristriatus, Notiophilus biguttatus and Amara apricara, were more frequent in the hoed plots. All six of these species did not differ in numbers among undersown treatments. Two other species, Agonum muelleri and Bembidion lampros, did differ numerically among undersowing treatments, but the biggest differences were early...

The abundance and seasonal dynamics of carabid beetles and other ground-dwelling arthropods in conventional and low-input dry bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cropping systems were investigated over two field seasons in Maine, USA. In 1988, carabids and staphylinids were significantly greater in number in the low-input plots. Staphylinids and arachnids were significantly more abundant in the low-input plots in 1989. Elaterid adults were abundant in 1988, and the number in the conventional plots was 23 times higher than in the low-input plots. Multivariate analysis showed that compositions of major ground-dweling arthropods differed significantly between the two cropping systems from the early to middle season of plant growth. Individual carabid species differed between the two cropping systems. Harpalus rufipes, Pterostichus melanarius, Agonum muelleri, Clivina fossor, Carabus memoralis, Carabus auratus , and Loricera pilicornis were dominant carabid species in this study. In 1988, Pterostichus melanarius, Carabus auratus , and L. pilicornis were significantly more abundant in the low-input plots, while A. muelleri and Clivina fossor were significantly more abundant in the conventional plots. In 1989, however, only A. muelleri was significantly different between cropping systems and a significantly higher number was trapped in the low-input plots.

The influence of within-field position and adjoining habitat on carabid beetles was studied in 20 winter wheat fields in ten different Swiss agricultural landscapes. In each landscape, two winter wheat fields (one with adjoining sown wildflower area and one with adjoining grassy margin) were investigated. 2 Carabid beetles were caught in pitfall traps 3 and 30 m from the edge in each of the 20 wheat fields. Significantly more individuals were found in the centres (30-m position) than at the edges (3-m position). Conversely, species richness was significantly higher at the field edges than in the centres. 3 Of the ten most abundant species, Poecilus cupreus, Agonum muelleri and Pterostichus melanarius were significantly more abundant in the field centres than at the edges. Harpalus rufipes was significantly more abundant in the fields adjoining sown wildflower areas than in the fields adjoining grassy margins. 4 In conclusion, the response of carabid beetles to within-field position and adjoining habitats was species specific. This needs to be taken into account in habitat management for biodiversity conservation and pest control.

Ground beetles are well known as beneficial organisms in agroecosystems, contributing to the predation of a wide range of animal pests and weed seeds. Tillage has generally been shown to have a negative effect on ground beetles, but it is not known whether this is because of direct mortality or the result of indirect losses resulting from dispersal caused by habitat deterioration. In 2005, field experiments measured direct, tillage-induced mortality, of four carabid weed seed predators, Harpalus rufipes DeGeer, Agonum muelleri Herbst, Anisodactylus merula Germar, and Amara cupreolata Putzeys, and one arthropod predator, Pterostichus melanarius Illiger, common to agroecosystems in the northeastern United States. Three tillage treatments (moldboard plow, chisel plow, and rotary tillage) were compared with undisturbed controls at two sites (Stillwater and Presque Isle) and at two dates (July and August) in Maine. Carabid activity density after disturbance was measured using fenced pitfall traps installed immediately after tillage to remove any effects of dispersal. Rotary tillage and moldboard plowing reduced weed seed predator activity density 52 and 54%, respectively. Carabid activity density after chisel plowing was similar to the undisturbed control. This trend was true for each of the weed seed predator species studied. However, activity density of the arthropod predator P. melanarius was reduced by all tillage types, indicating a greater sensitivity to tillage than the four weed seed predator species. These results confirm the need to consider both direct and indirect effects of management in studies of invertebrate seed predators.