LIFE-CYCLES OF CARABIDS OF THE GENUS STEN OLOPHUS (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE)

Peculiarities of life cycles in Stenolophus species based on field exp eriments in south-western Moldova are discussed. In European steppe sp ecies of the given genus show two patterns of life cycles. The life cy cle of S. skrimshiranus is monovoltine one year one with hibernating i mage, the life cycles of S, discophorus, S. mixtus, and S. persicus ar e polyvariant bivoltine one year with hibernating image, larvae of eld er age and a pupa. Development of larval stages is completed at the be ginning of the next growing period without prolongation and subsequent synchronization. This variant of the life cycle is characterized by h igh plasticity towards environmental factors. In unfavourable seasons some developmental phases can be active for short time, but this fact doesn't influence the whole life cycle.