Diversity of Carabidae (Coleoptera) in Ouargla palm groves (Algerian Sahara)

In this study, we made a list of all the Carabidae species recorded in Ouargla palm groves in the Algerian Sahara from August 2021 to September 2022 using pitfall traps, and we have investigated their diversity, abundance, and the environmental factors influencing their spatiotemporal distribution. The inventory allowed the identification of 28 species of Carabidae, with a total number of 288 specimens and the dominance of Lophyra flexuosa (202 individuals). The identified species belong to eleven subfamilies, of which Harpalinae was the most diverse with 10 species, whereas Cicindelinae was the most abundant (231 individuals). The values of Shannon-Weaver index (H’) varied between 1.72 and 1.87 in the different sampling sites. The spatial distribution of Carabidae species seems to be influenced by several ecological parameters, mainly the soil covering and the palm grove maintenance. However, the temporal distribution of these insects seems to be influenced by climatic factors, namely precipitation and temperature. Keywords: Ground beetles; Ouargla; Algerian Sahara; palm groves; pitfall traps; diversity