POPULATION FLUCTUATION OF COLEOPTERA SPECIES IN AN Eucalyptus urophylla PLANTATION IN THE COUNTY OF TRES MARIAS, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to study the population fluctuation of Coleoptera species in an Eucalyptus urophylla plantation in the County of Tres Marias, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Five light traps were installed during the night in this plantation once every fifteen days from March 1995 to February 1996. Insects collected were identified based in the literature and in entomological collections. They were identified at species (INE) or family (INF) levels. A total of 23,782 individuals of 99 species of the Coleoptera order was collected, being 13 identified per species and 86 per family, representing 13.13 and 86.87% of total species collected, respectively. The most abundant species was Cyclocephala sp. (Dynastidae) with 296 individuals. The family with larger number of individuals and of species was Carabidae. Population peaks of Coleoptera species in this area were registered in the months of September and October.

Key words
Coleoptera; Eucalyptus urophylla; population dynamics