Bionomy, life cycle and distribution of species Ophonus (Metophonus) subsinuatus Rey, 1886 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Central Europe

Abstrakt: An experimental bed of dill Anethum graveolens (Apiaceae) was established in Šumice village (near Uherský Brod city, Czech Republic) in 2011, to test the hypothesis that dill is the host plant of Ophonus (Metophonus) subsinuatus Rey, 1886. The beetle was found to have a probable monophagous association with this plant. In subsequent breeding in outdoor conditions, it was verified that the entire larval development takes place on dill seeds. Species overwinter as a 3rd instar larva in an underground chamber, in which they also pupate during June. Adults eclose from the beginning of June, synchronized with the maturation of the first seeds of the host plant. Adults are predominantly nocturnal. The main activity period is from June to the end of September. The origin and distribution of dill, which is a non-native plant in Central Europe but has been cultivated since the early Middle Ages, is discussed. The paper also summarizes the existing published and unpublished data on the beetle's distri­bution in Central Europe (Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany) and presents the first records for Austria. The authors assume that this species will be found in other countries with a tradition of dill growing.