Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) occurring in apple orchards under different production systemsNaziemne biegaczowate (Coleoptera: Carabidae) występujące w sadach jabłoniowych objętych różnymi systemami produkcji

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this research was to monitor changes in the Carabidae communities occurring in apple orchards running under different production systems, and to determine the effect of plant protection measures on the beetle populations. The observations were carried out in north‐eastern Poland, in the orchard according to the Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) rules (Łegajny) and in the extensively managed orchard (Zielonka). It was stated that Carabidae assemblages in the IFP orchard were characterized by a higher species richness, abundance and a higher values of the indices of species diversity H’ and evenness J’ comparing to the ones occurring in the extensive orchard. This was most probably a consequence of the two different ways of grass cultivations in the both orchards and strong human presssure in the extensive orchard. In the IFP orchard, open‐area and eurytopic species occurred in a large number. These were species feeding with mixed and plant food, and prefering moderately moist or dry habitats. In the extensive orchard, large and medium zoophages which belonged to peat and forest species were often recorded. Among the pesticides used in both orchards, herbicides negatively affected catchability of Carabidae.