Brouci (Coleoptera) Významného krajinného prvku Motýlí step Pichce u Příbrami

Abstract: We summarize the results of a faunistic survey of the beetles (Coleoptera) of the significant landscape component Motýlí step Pichce („Pichce butterfly steppe“) near Příbram, Central Bohemia. The study area of about 20 ha (10 ha is included in the significant landscape component) includes heterogeneous habitat, a mosaic of marshlands, grasslands, steppes, open broadleaved woodlands and coniferous forests. The beetle fauna was surveyed during two periods – before 1998 and after 2009. In total, we have confirmed 481 species of beetles from 46 families. The study area is the only known locality for the ground beetle Cymindis angularis (Gyllenhal, 1810) and the anthribid Allandrus undulatus (Panzer, 1795) in the Příbram region. The first record of the longhorn beetle Calamobius filum (Rossi, 1790) in the region documents the northward spread of this species. The study area hosts stable populations of two obligatory heathland specialists – the heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis (C. G. Thomson, 1866)) and the small heather weevil (Micrelus ericae (Gyllenhal, 1813)). Ongoing succession has led to the disappearance of two heathland specialists, including the ground beetle Bradycellus ruficollis (Stephens, 1828. In total, 63 species of ground beetles (Carabidae) have been recorded in the study area, 30 species were recorded only before 1998, 17 only after 2009. The dominance of xerotherm beetle species confined to open steppe habitats supports the view of the area as a regional corridor connecting the warm environments of Berounka River and Vltava River. Eleven years of management activities in the area have led to partial restoration and enlargement of the habitats of conservation importance – mainly open marshlands and grasslands. However, a longer period is needed for a significant recovery of the original ecological value of the degraded habitats.

Key words: Czech Republic, Central Bohemia, Coleoptera, faunistics, significant landscape component, species diversity, community composition, habitat management