Wet and dry forests of the Otway Ranges (SE. Australia):
88 two square metre leaf litter samples (all 2019).
Average of >1,000,000 beetles/hectare in leaf litter in the ten most abundant #beetle families.
Almost half are from one family: Staphylinidae.
88 two square metre leaf litter samples (all 2019).
Average of >1,000,000 beetles/hectare in leaf litter in the ten most abundant #beetle families.
Almost half are from one family: Staphylinidae.
These 10 families are (top left to bottom right)
Staphylinidae
Ptiliidae
Curculionidae
Carabidae
Leiodidae
Hydrophilidae
Silvanidae
Corylophidae
Zopheridae
Melandryidae
Staphylinidae
Ptiliidae
Curculionidae
Carabidae
Leiodidae
Hydrophilidae
Silvanidae
Corylophidae
Zopheridae
Melandryidae
If I use this data to extrapolate (like the vertebrate people have) then I would estimate more than THREE TRILLION ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BILLION beetles from the family Staphylinidae have been combusted in the 2019/20 eastern Australian fires so far.
Of course this is somewhat silly (as this type of process almost inevitably is...) but goes some way to promote reflection on the incomprehensible numbers of animals (yes, 'bugs' are animals) impacted.
