FLIGHT ACTIVITY OF COCCINELLA-SEPTEMPUNCTATA (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE) AT DIFFERENT STRATA OF A FOREST IN RELATION TO MIGRATION TO HIBERNATION SITES

The flight activity of C. septempunctata was examined in a mixed oak f orest, North Hungary, in 1987-1988. Malaise traps were established at the shrub level (0-2 m), the canopy level (12.5-14.5 m) and above the forest (25-27 m). A fourth trap was placed in an open grassland 200 m from the forest edge at the ground level. Exact meteorological data we re registered during the season. The highest flight activity was obser ved in late July - early August in both years. This period fits to the migration period of C. septempunctata to hibernation sites. In this p eriod a ''long distance flight behaviour'' was observed in the high st rata of the forest. The meteorological conditions highly influenced th e flight activity of beetles, especially in the canopy level. In 1987, long distance flight behaviour was almost completely absent due to th e low temperature and high wind speed.