Coleoptera in the Diet of the Asian badger (Meles leucurus Hodgson 1847, Carnivora, Mustelidae) in Forest-steppe Zone of Urals

Abstract

We studied the remains of Coleoptera in Asian badger (Meles leucurus Hodgson, 1847) scats collected during 6 years in the northern forest-steppe zone of Urals region (Sverdlovsk Region). Species list and also ecological (habitat) groups and size classes' ratios were compared with the results of censuses of insects made by pitfall traps in the same study area and with literature data for the southern taiga and the northern forest-steppe zones of Urals region. Badgers consumed mainly the beetles living in the ground and herbal layers. The highest number of individuals was observed for big beetles (15–30 mm), while the highest number of species was found for small beetles (5–10 mm). Ecological (habitat) groups and size classes' ratios were different for the insects consumed by badger and those caught in pitfall traps. Such differences should be taken into account in the studies where predators' food remains are the main (or the only) source of information about the insect fauna. Assessments of the availability of insects for badgers cannot be based only on the data of pitfall-trap censuses, but other entomological methods should be used as well.