SPECIFIC FEATURES OF LIFE-CYCLE OF PSEUDO OPHONUS (S. STR.) RUFIPES DEG. (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) IN SOUTHWEST MOLDOVA

The peculiarities of the life cycle of Pseudophonus (s. str.) rufipes Deg. are discussed on the basis of field experiments. In southwest Mol dova, this species reproduces twice per vegetation season. The presenc e of two catching peaks in juvenile and immature beetles preceding the reproduction period suggests that two relatively isolated groups coex ist which differ in the time of breeding. In this area, the life cycle of this species is realized as annual with two variants: summer repro duction and overwintering image and summer-autumn reproduction and ove rwintering larvae. The flight migration is characteristic mainly for t he P. rufipes individuals that overwinter at the larval stages and det ermine the autumn peak of activity. This is confirmed by both the date s of capture in light traps and the state of the wing muscle in indivi duals overwintering at different ontogenetic stages. The influence of the body mass on the flight migration is discussed. The threshold valu es of the body mass for juvenile, immature, and mature individuals of both sexes are proposed.