Influence de la remise en exploitation de taillis-sous-futaie sur la faune entomologique | Influence of Renewed Coppicing with Standards on the Entomological Fauna

Abstract

This study estimates the influence of renewed coppicing with standards on the abundance and diversity of four beetle families(Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Lucanidae and phytophagous Scarabaeidae) in a forest where this practice was abandoned. The study was conducted from mid-May to mid-August 1998 in the region of Ferreyres - Moiry (VD). Eight sites were chosen for the sampling of these insects, which were captured by means of window and water traps. Coppicing with standards is very favourable to these beetles, which are often thermophilous. In such places, they find stumps and branch heaps, which are suitable for the development of their larvae. On the contrary, in abandoned coppice, the abundance and diversity of the selected beetles are very low. This kind of forest is extremely dark and unsuitable for thermophi-lous species. Renewed coppicing with standards is, therefore, very recommendable. It creates very favourable biotopes for the beetles, where they find both light and deadwood and which, to a certain extent, recreate the biotopes naturally formed by the fall of old trees in primitive forests.