Nialoe Tanaka, 1958 is a subgenus of the ground beetle genus Pterostichus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), endemic to East Asia. In a wide sense of Nialoe, it consists of more than 200 species, which has reduced hindwing and possibly diversified by geographical isolation due to poor dispersal ability. To understand this vast group, phylogenetic studies have been conducted, showing that Nialoe s. lat. comprises of five subgenera: Nialoe s. str., Sphodroferonia, Koreonialoe, and two unnamed subgenera. However, there is little knowledge regarding their origin and dispersal. In this study, we examine phylogenetic relationships among the five subgenera of Nialoe s. lat. based on 28S rRNA, wingless, COI, and 16S rRNA. The molecular clock and S-DIVA analyses are devised to investigate the biogeographical history of the group in East Asia. This study may give insight into the biogeographical dispersal and diversification of East Asian carabids.

We analyzed comparatively the ground beetle communities of 1993 and 2023, with 30 year interval, in broadleaf and coniferous stands of the Gwangneung forest, a biosphere reserve in South Korea. 2,906 individuals (53 species, 38 genera, and 15 families) were collected from broadleaf stands and 1,782 individuals (36 species, 32 genera, and 14 families) from coniferous stands in 1993. The dominant species was Synuchus cycloderus in both stands. In 2023, 1,682 individuals (110 species, 78 genera, 21 families) were collected from broadleaf stands and 990 individuals (92 species, 67 genera, 22 families) from coniferous stands. In 2023, the dominant species were Eucarabus (Parhomopterus) sternbergi sternbergi in broadleaf stands and Coptolabrus jankowskii jankowskii in coniferous stands. Species richness (R'), species evenness (E'), species diversity (H'), and dominance (DI) were all higher than in broadleaf (R'=15.472, E'=0.336, H'=1.601, and DI=0.371) and coniferous (R'=13.756, E'=0.369, H'=1.324, and DI=0.326) forests in 2023.

Beetles are one of the most effective transportation for phoretic chelicerata. They use various methods to attach themselves to their hosts, such as developing ventral sucker plates, grasping with their claws and chelicerae, or hiding beneath the elytra. Recently, we discovered new species of two genera: Antennoseius (Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae) and Gaeolaelaps (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) which are hiding under the elytra of Carabidae hosts. In this study, digital images of the beetles, and mites, along with brief diagnostic information and line-drawing plates will be provided.

정읍과 장수지역은 고도 차이로 인해 평균기온이 다르며, 이러한 환경조건은 생물군집에 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 지표서식성 딱정벌레와 거미에 대한 영향을 알아보기 위해 2018년 3월에 지역별로 10지점의 논둑에서 pitfall-trap을 이용하여 조사하였다. 딱정벌레는 정읍에서 42종이 장수에서 30종이 발견되었으며, 작은모래거저리가 가장 많았다. 거미는 두 지역 모두 40종이 발견되었으며, 턱거미가 가장 많았다. nMDS와 MRPP 분석에서 두 지역의 딱정벌레와 거미의 군집조성이 모두 유의적 차이가 없었다. 딱정벌레와 거미의 개체수와 다양성지수 (species richness, Shannon index, evenness 등)도 지역간 차이가 없었다. 하지만 청동머리먼지벌레의 상대밀도는 장수가 12.3%로 정읍의 0.6%보다 컸다. 또한 밭고랑거미는 장수에서 거미 총개체수의 5.6%를 차지하였으나 정읍에서는 채집되지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 두 지역의 환경차이가 딱정벌레와 거미의 전체 군집조성에 미치는 영향은 뚜렷하지 않지만, 일부 종에 대해서는 지역적 특이성을 보일 수 있다는 점을 시사한다.

독특한 경관특성과 높은 보존적 가치에도 불구하고, 사구와 관련된 곤충 다양성 연구는 매우 부족한 편이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 태안해안국립공원에서 주로 관찰되는 사구와 방풍림(해송)에서 서식하는 지표성 딱정벌레류 군집 구조에 대한 비교 연구를 수행하였다. 2014년 6월 중순부터 10월 중순까지 함정트랩을 이용하여 방풍림 5개 지점과 사구 3개 지점을 조사하였다. 조사 결과, 총 2,335개체의 지표성 딱정벌레류를 채집하였으며, 이들은 15속 30종으로 동정되었다. 사구에서는 24종이 채집되었는데, 둥근칠납작먼지벌레(158개체)와 등빨간먼지벌레(153개체)가 우점하였다. 반 면, 방품림에서는 14종이 채집되었고, 둥근칠납작먼지벌레(1,630개체), 윤납작먼지벌레(130개체) 및 붉은칠납작먼지벌 레(42개체)가 우점하였다. 방풍림과 사구의 지표성 딱정벌레류 종 구성의 유사도는 27.4%로 낮았다. 본 연구 결과는 태안해안국립공원에서 발견되는 사구 지형이 방풍림과 비교해서 다른 곤충 군집을 보유하고 있음을 보여주고 있으며, 이는 향후 곤충 보전을 위한 중요한 정보가 될 것이다.

2016년도에 조사를 수행한 경상북도 내 위치한 산림유전자원보호구역 3개 지역(봉화･영주･울진)의 곤충 군집 변화를 확인하기 위하여 5월에서 9월까지 함정 트랩(pitfall trap)을 이용하여 5회씩 3반복하여 각각 상대적으로 비교 하였다. 채집된 딱정벌레류는 딱정벌레과 등 22과 141종 2,415개체가 확인 되었으며, MRPP (Multi-response Permutation procedures)분석 결과 서식지간의 군집구조차이가 있음을 확인 하였고(p < 0.001), Bray-cutis 분석결과 군집간의 차이와 함께 신갈나무 군락이 보행성 딱정벌레류의 종 풍부도에 큰 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났고 소나무군락 은 비교적 낮은 영향을 받았다. 식생유형에 대한 지표종 분석결과 신갈나무 군락에서 붉은칠납작먼지벌레(Synuchus cycloderus Bates, 1873)를 포함한 4종, 자작나무 군락에서는 노랑털검정반날개(Ocypus weisei Harold, 1877)를 포함한 3종, 소나무 군락에서는 홍딱지반날개(Platydracus brevicornis Motschulsky, 1862)를 포함한 3종의 지표종 변화를 확인 하였다.

This study was conducted to investigate the community structure and species distribution of ground beetle assemblages in western part of Yeongwol-gun, Korea. Ground beetles were collected by pitfall traps from 9 study sites during July to October in 2013. A total of 30 species were identified from 4,439 collected ground beetles. Two dominant species, Synuchus nitidus (1,916 individuals) and Synuchus cycloderus (1,900 individuals) were occupied 85.8% of total. Interestingly, Pterostichus orientalis orientalis and Synuchus melantho were only collected in relative high altitude above 350 m, such as Beopheung-ri, Unhak-ri, and Yongseok-ri. Large-sized beetles, such as Damaster, Leptocarabus, and Carabus species, were generally more collected from Suju-myeon (Beopheung-ri and Unhak-ri) and Jucheon-myeon (Docheon-ri and Yongseok-ri) as well-conserved area, but not occurred in Yeongwol-eup and Hanbando-myeon, which forests may have lower habitat quality for these species. These differences also lead to increasing of dissimilarity among study sites, which were diverged into 3 groups at 53.0% of similarity. In particular, species composition of Samok-ri was significantly different at 8.2% of similarity because of difference in habitat characteristics as river side. This study has an important value to provide the fundamental information of inventory and monitoring in Yeongwol-gun. For detail mapping of species distribution in Yeongwol-gun, however, further studies are necessary, especially eastern parts of Yeongwol-gun.

In recent, habitat fragmentation is one of the major factors to threat to biodiversity loss, because habitat fragmentation caused by urbanization and land-use change affect reducing of habitat amount and changing of environmental condition. In particular, increasing of forest edges by habitat fragmentation cause changing of microclimate and distribution of organisms in forest. This study was conducted to examine the distributional patterns of ground beetle assemblages along forestedge- crop gradients in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do. We selected 8 study sites as line gradients from forest interior to crop (+80m, +40m, +20m, 0m, -20m, -40m, -80m). Ground beetles were collected by pitfall traps from May to October in 2012. A total of 61 species were identified from 3,739 collected beetles. Species richness was the highest at forest edge (GLM with Tukey’s test, F6, 49=2.56, P=0.031). Although abundance was higher at both forest interior and edge, but not showed statistical significance (F6, 49=2.06, P=0.076). Species composition of forest interiors were significantly different from forest exteriors (crops) by non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and cluster analysis with similarity profile test (SIMPROF), while forest edges showed intermediate characteristics. Although our study sites may not represent the overall Korean forest, we confirmed that forest edges are important habitats for generalists and open-habitat species as well as forest specialists. In conclusion, management of both forest edge and its surroundings are needed to conserve biodiversity in forest,

This study was conducted to examine the community structure of ground beetles between coniferous and deciduous forest in rural landscapes along latitudinal gradient, such as Miryang-si, Yeongdong-gun, Icheon-si, and Cheolwon-gun from April to October in 2009. A total of 19 species belonging to 15 genera of 9 subfamilies were identified from 6,253 collected ground beetles. Between forest stands, 14 species belonging to 10 genera of 7 subfamilies were identified from 2,874 ground beetles in coniferous forests and 14 species belonging to 11 genera of 7 subfamilies were identified from 3,379 ground beetles in deciduous forests. Dominant species from 4 regions were Synuchus nitidus (59.4% of total) and Synuchus cyloderus (28.5%) respectively. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed no difference between forest stands, but it was significantly different among regions. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed that 8 study sites were divergence to 2 major groups between Miryang-si and the others. Overall, community structure of ground beetles showed no difference between forest stands. In conclusion, rural forests is being discussed about important role in biodiversity conservation such as refuge from human activity, and thus, studies on the community structure of ground beetles in the rural forests will be important to manage the biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, because ground beetles are well known for general predator groups in the ecosystems.

The Scarites aterrimus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is one of the carabid beetles dwelling exclusively on coastal sandy dunes. Recent habitat deterioration has greatly concerned population declines in several species dwelling on the coastal sandy dunes. Asa first step to establish long-term conservation strategy, we investigated the nation-wide magnitude and nature of genetic diversity of the species. As a first step, we sequenced a portion of mitochondrial COI gene, corresponding to “DNA Barcode” region (658 bp) from a total of 24 S. aterrimus individuals collected over nine sandy dunes belonging to four Korean provinces. The sequence analysis evidenced moderate to low magnitude of sequence diversity compared with other insect species distributed in Korean peninsula (0.152% to 0.912%). The presence of closely related haplotypes and relatively high gene flow estimate collectively suggest that there had been no historical barriers that bolster genetic subdivision. Population decline was postulated on the basis of several missing haplotypes that are well found in the species with a large population size. This interpretation is consistent with field observation of small population size in the coastal sandy dune habitats. The highest genetic diversity estimates were found in the coastal sand dune population of Seogwipo, Jeju Island, justifying a prior attention to the population, in order to sustain overall genetic diversity of the species. Further scrutinized study might be required for further robust conclusion.

This study was conducted to investigate the altitudinal distribution of the ground beetle community in a mountain area during 2007 to 2009, and to examine what habitat characters are most relevant to the distribution of mountain ground beetle species, and finally to identify potential biological indicators for monitoring in forest. The study area was Mt. Sobaeksan National Park (1439 m elevation), in Punggi-up, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Ground beetles were collected by pitfall traps, which were installed along the altitudinal gradient 437, 757, 1100 and 1420 m. In total, 3,259 individuals were identified as 32 species in 18 genera. The dominant species were Synuchus cycloderus (29.4%), Eucarabus sternbergi sobaeksanensis (15.4%) and Pterostichus orientalis (9.7%) in order. Overall, the ground beetle community structure was different along the altitude (similarity 65.2%) by NMDS ordination, but also were clustered into 2 groups, 437 and 757 m, and 1100 and 1420 m (similarity 57.9%). Therefore, the ground beetle assemblage could provide basic information for forest management. In this study, some ground beetle species were suggested to potential biological indicators along altitudinal gradient.

We investigated ground beetles in riverbank of the Yamato River in Nara and Osaka Prefectures，to elucidate changes in the species diversity and assemblage structure．Ground beetles were collected with unbaited pitfall traps once a week from April to December 2006 at five sites; sandy and grassy riverbanks in Ikaruga (Site 1) and Sangoh Towns, Nara Prefecture (Site 2)，a gravelly riverbed in a valley in Kashiwara City (Site 3)，and sandy and grassy riverbanks with willow trees in Fujiidera (Site 4) and Matsubara Cities，Osaka Prefecture (Site 5)． A total of 4,319 individuals belonging to 53 species from two families were captured at the 5 sites. Species richness was the highest at Site 4 (40 spp.), higher at Sites 2, 5 and 1 (31, 30 and 29 spp. respectively), and the lowest at Site 3 (19 spp.). Compared with results in 1988 (Ishii etal., 1996), species richness of both small-and middle-sized specie sand both temperate and northern species increased, and 2 southern species and 2 species endemic to Japan were newly recorded. It should be noted that large numbers of Bembidion lissonotum and Nobria lewisi, "gravel riverspecialists", were caught at Site3. Our results demonstrate that ground-beetle fauna was well maintained in riverbank of the Yamato River in last 18 years.

본 연구는 농업 생태계의 생물다양성 보전에 있어 서식처 기반의 보전 전략을 수립하는데 있어 기본 정보를 제공하기 위해 수행되었다. 연구는 경기도 화성시 팔탄면에 위치한 환경압박이 서로 다른 3개 조사지(농경지와 야산으로 이루어진 조사지 1, 공장이 많이 위치하는 조사지 2, 거주지역이 많이 차지하는 조사지 3에서 4개의 토지이용(야산, 밭둑, 논둑, 하천변)별로 2000년 11월부터 2002년 11월까지 39회의 딱정벌레 군집 조사를 통해 이루어졌다. 본 연구의 주요 결과로 서 딱정벌레 군집 조성, 우점종 그리고 군집 패턴이 토지이용에 따라 다르게 나타났으며, 유사도는 조사지 2와 3의 논둑에서 가장 높게 나타났고, 조사지 2의 야산과 조사지 3의 하천변간의 유사도가 가장 낮았다. 또한 도로에 의해 파편화된 서식처간의 유사도가 서로 다른 서식처 및 조사지간의 유사도보다 낮게 나타났다. 이를 통해 생물다양성 보전과 네트워크 측면에서 농경지 토지이용은 각각이 중요한 역할을 수행하고 있음을 알 수 있다. 본 연구는 국내 농촌경관에서의 서식처별 딱정벌레 군집분석을 통하여 생물다양성 보전에 대한 기초 자료를 제공한다는 점에서 가치를 평가할 수 있다.

This study was conducted to explore if the ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) can be used as an indicator classifying habitat types. Thirteen land use types were selected as survey sites in Jeonju. Ground beetles were collected by 3 pitfall traps (15 cm diameter) for each site from June 20 to September 22, 2008. Pitfall traps were replaced at one month interval. Total 919 ground beetles of 31 species belonging to 17 genera were collected. Land use types were classified and ordinated by two-way indicator species analysis and detrended correspondence analysis. Land use types were classified and ordinated into two major groups, forest and non-forest, by Synuchus nitidus and Dolichus halensis. Two major groups were subdivided into 4 end groups; forest, riverside, upland and other sites. Other sites group including 4 sites; levee, public garden, outfield and manufacturing area were not coincided with land use types. Nevertheless, ground beetles appear to be used as indicators of habitat types.