Helops glabriventris glabriventris (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), One of the Primary Consumers of Corticolous Lichens in the Coniferous Forests of Cyprus: Bionomics, Trophic Associations and Description of Larvae

Abstract

We present the life history and trophic relations of the lichenophagous darkling beetle Helops glabriventris glabriventris Reitter, 1885 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Helopini), which is widespread in Cyprus. Adults of H. glabriventris feed primarily on Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae), which is the most widespread fruticose corticolous lichen in Cypriot forests of Pinus brutia Tenore, Cedrus brevifolia (Hook. f.) Meikle and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold and Anatolian forests of Pinus brutia. Additionally, they can feed on the crustose corticolous lichen Hypocenomyce scalaris (Ach.) M. Choisy (Lecideaceae) as an alternative trophic source. We described and illustrated the last instar larva of this species, collected in the rotten wood of Pinus nigra. Fossorial adaptations of larvae are discussed and compared with other representatives of the tribe Helopini.