RESEARCHES ABOUT THE LEAF BEETLES (CHRYSOMELIDAE, COLEOPTERA) OF TULCA AREA (BIHOR COUNTY, ROMANIA)

In this work are presented data about the fauna of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera) from Tulca area, Bihor county during the period 2009 – 2021. There were recorded 69 species belonging to 8 subfamilies, 35 genera, and 10 chromatic varieties. The identified species are relatively common in the Romanian fauna, representing 12.02 % of the total species from Romania. Some species, through the attacked host plants, can be harmful to agriculture and forestry: Crioceris duodecimpunctata L., Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, Chrysomela populi L., Chrysomela vigintipunctata Scop., Plagiodera versicolora Laich., Gonioctena fornicata Bruggm., Phratora vitellinae L., Diabrotica virgifera Le Conte, the species belonging to Phyllotretta genus, Crepidodera aurata Marsh., Crepidodera aurea Geoffr. The multitude of the number of species on a relatively small territory in terms of surface shows the great variety of plant species with which they feed but also the fact that the area is unpollued, being an argument for protecting nature in the future of this area.