The spatial distribution of beetles within the canopies of oak trees in Richmond Park, UK

1. 5054 adult beetles of 144 species were collected in a total of 696 1-m(2 ) collecting trays by knockdown insecticide fogging of 36 different oak tre es in closed canopy woodland at Richmond Park, U.K., with three of the tree s sampled on each of 12 dates, at 2- to 3-week intervals, between April and October 1984. 2. In late spring (April/May), more individuals and species of beetles were collected in trays close to the trunks of trees than in trays more distant from the trunk. The reverse was the case in late September/October. Neithe r pattern prevailed in the intervening months. 3. Individual species exhibited a variety of patterns, with some species mo re abundant near the trunk, e.g. Leiopus nebulosus (L.), Strophosoma melano grammum (Forster), Cylindronotus laevioctostriatus (Goeze), and Dromius agi lis (Fabricius), and some less abundant near the trunk, e.g. Curculio pyrrh oceras (Marsham) and Rhynchaenus signifer (Creutzer). For Adalia decempunct ata (L.), this preference changed with season. The observed species prefere nces for parts of a tree crown near or distant from the main trunk are disc ussed with reference to their known biologies. 4. No pronounced pattern of preference for north- or south-facing aspects o f trees in closed canopy woodland was observed, however populations of some species exhibited patterns of within-tree distribution that correlate with compass angle; for one species, the ladybird Adalia decempunctata, this di stribution changed with season and between colour morphs.