GROUND BEETLES OF ISLANDS IN THE WESTERN BASIN OF LAKE ERIE AND THE ADJACENT MAINLAND (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE, INCLUDING CICINDELINI)

We report 241 species representing 63 genera of ground beetles from th e islands of the western basin of Lake Erie and selected mainland site s from a 1991-93 survey, plus specimens examined in public and private collections, and previously published sources. Most species are gener ally distributed; however, a restricted population of Sphaeroderus sch aumii schaumii we rediscovered is no doubt imperiled. Comparison of wi ng morphotype frequencies of the Lake Erie island species with mainlan d populations from studies in Ohio and Michigan support a hypothesis t hat vagility is of increased import in the islands. Regression and cor relation analysis show a positive relationship between species number and island area, no correlation between species number and distance fr om the mainland and an improved fit for a multiple regression which in cludes collecting effort.