Inventory of the Azorean rove-beetles (Insecta, Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Study Extent

The study was conducted in several habitats of eight islands of Azores archipelago: Flores, S. Jorge, Pico, Faial, Terceira, Graciosa, S. Miguel and Sta. Maria islands. The sampled habitats include exotic, mixed, and native forests, intensive and semi-natural pastures, orchards, caves, and lava flows.

Sampling

This inventory of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) includes records obtained in several standardized sampling campaigns and by non-standardized methods performed between 1990 and 2015. Most of the records (96.7%) are based on standardized sampling campaigns, which included pitfall and beating protocols. The used methodology is in accordance with Borges et al. (2016) and BALA (Biodiversity of Arthropods the Laurissilva of Azores) I and II projects. Non-standardized records are based on hand-collecting and sifting, as well as cave, color and malaise traps. Standardized sampling campaigns included pitfall traps and beating transects. Pitfall trap transect protocols were conducted with 33 cl plastic cups, partially filled with propylene glycol, in the soil (cup rim at surface level) every 5 m. Traps were protected from rain using a plastic plate, placed about 5 cm above surface level and fixed to the ground with wire. The pitfall traps remained active in the field for 14 days. Beating transects were performed by beating the canopy of woody vegetation, using a beating tray. The protocol was conducted when the vegetation was dry. A 5 m wide square was established every 15 m (total of 10 squares per transect). Two woody plant specimens of the most abundant species (up to three species when available) were sampled in each square. For each selected plant, a branch was chosen at random and a beating tray placed beneath. The tray consisted of a 1 m wide and 60 cm deep cloth inverted pyramid, with a plastic bag at the vertex. Five beatings were made using a stick for each plant individual sampled.

Quality Control

All sorted specimens were identified by a taxonomical expert

Method steps

1. Collected samples were sorted by parataxonomist and posteriorly identified by an expert taxonomist in laboratory

Staphylinidae (Insecta, Coleoptera)

1. Staphylinidae
   common name: Rove-beetles rank: family

Azores, Portugal: the western group (Flores), the central group (Faial, Pico, Graciosa, São Jorge and Terceira), and the eastern group (São Miguel and Santa Maria).