Life cycles of carabids of the genus Stenolophus (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Peculiarities of life cycles in Stenolophus species based on field experiments in south-western Moldova are discussed. In European steppe species of the given genus show two patterns of life cycles. The life cycle of S. skrimshiranus is monovoltine one year one with hibernating image, the life cycles of S, discophorus, S. mixtus, and S. persicus are polyvariant bivoltine one year with hibernating image, larvae of elder age and a pupa. Development of larval stages is completed at the beginning of the next growing period without prolongation and subsequent synchronization. This variant of the life cycle is characterized by high 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.