Species composition and diversity of the true bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) of a raised bog in Belarus

Abstract

Peat bogs in the temperate zone form isolated and discrete patches of Btundra^ and so are azonal ecosystems relative to the surroundings. The aim of the current work is to investigate the species composition and diversity of the true bugs of pristine natural peat bog in Belarus. In total, 75 true bugs species belonging to 13 families in Belarusian peat bog were sampled by sweep net along transects. A specific complex of Heteroptera species were found. The results showed a low diversity and species richness of true bugs and a high abundance of a small number of species. Among these species, the primary peat bog specialist is Stephanitis oberti (Kolenati). Rare in Central Europe tyrphobiontic and tyrphophilous species were recorded. Abundance and species richness of Heteroptera were the highest in the shrub habitat. The modeling results (GLM) indicated that vegetation characteristics strong influenced true bugs abundances and species richness in peat bogs habitats, which I interpreted the as a measure of heterogeneity.