Forest litter insect community succession in clearcuts of Norway spruce

Insects are subjected to stress in fresh clearcuts due to changes in microclimate, vegetation, and trophic links. The objective of this study was to investigate succession in litter insect communities (most abundant by number of species and individuals of all clearcut insects). Representatives of the order Coleoptera order were dominant and represented 78% of all trappped arthropods; 9% were Aranei and 4% were Hymenoptera. The most abundant beetles were in the families Carabidae (65%), Curculionidae (16%) and Staphylinidae (7%). Entomophagous arthropods (carabids, spiders, ants) consisted of 69% of all insects found in the litter; 17% of insects recovered were phytophagous insects, Hylobius weevils, which represented 78% of this number. Insects in fresh clearcuts aggregate in the periphery or near piles of forest residues. Diversity is lower within the forest because vegetation in the understory of spruce forests is rather scarce. Special attention should be directed to the margins of clearcut where most Hylobius weevils were found.