Species diversity of centipedes during a year-round survey at two vineyard sites in Northern Israel

Abstract

Abstract Centipedes (Chilopoda) are mainly predators, which play essential roles in agroecosystems. In this work, pitfall traps were placed monthly during 1998 in two sites of vineyards in Northern Israel: the Geshur and Ramat Magshimim vineyards. The present research refers to the centipedes that were caught in these traps. Specimens of seven species of centipedes were caught in this work. Four centipede species were found in both vineyard sites: Thereuonema syriaca Verhoeff 1905, Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 1758), Scutigeridae gen. species, and Hessebius barbipes (Porath, 1893). Two species were found in the Geshur, and not in the Ramat-Magshimim vineyard: Lithobius (Monotarsobius) sp., and Harpolithobius halophilus Verhoeff, 1941. One species was found in the Ramat-Magshimim, and not in the Geshur vineyard: Lithobius carinatus L. Koch, 1862. In the Geshur vineyard, 52 specimens of 6 centipede species were found. In the Ramat Magshimim vineyard, 20 specimens of 5 centipede species were detected. These differences are probably related to the Geshur vineyard being close to natural Mediterranean shrubland, while the Ramat Magshimim vineyard is situated between cultivated areas.