VERTICAL STRATIFICATION OF SOME FAMILIES OF DIPTERA IN TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FORESTS (CENTRE OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA) : THE USE OF BEER TRAPS

Diptera is a crucial component of temperate forest systems in Europe. Vertical distribution of Diptera in forests is still insufficiently studied and there are many unanswered questions. The study has been conducted in the Republic of Mordovia (central European Russia). To collect insects, traps with beer and sugar bait were used. Collections were made during the period of June–September 2020 in four sites in deciduous forests. The maximum number of Diptera specimens has been collected at the height of 1.5 m from the ground level, and the minimum at the height of 3.5 m. Species from eight families (Anisopodidae, Calliphoridae, Drosophilidae, Fanniidae, Lonchaeidae, Milichiidae, Muscidae, Tipulidae) represent the main part of the sampled specimens. Calliphoridae, Drosophilidae, Dryomyzidae and Tipulidae, were most abundant at the height of 1.5 m from ground level. At the height of 12 m in the canopy, Anthomyiidae, Chloropidae, Lonchaeidae, Milichiidae, Periscelididae and Syrphidae were most abundant. Numbers of Fanniidae and Muscidae were almost equal at all heights. The species diversity of Muscidae was represented in the traps by 10 well-recofnized species. The most abundant species was Phaonia pallida (70.7%). Two species Thricops simplex (12.2%) and Muscina pascuorum (5.8%) were less abundant. Thricops simplex showed the greatest confinement to the height of 1.5 m, while Phaonia pallida increased in abundance from lower to higher levels of the forest community. The vertical distribution of Muscina pascuorum did not depend on the height of the trap. Key Words: beer trap, Mordovia State Nature Reserve, insects, dynamics, number