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MAIN ACTIVITIES
The scientific
investigations carried out by members of the Entomological Society of Latvia are
implemented inside scientific grants, international projects or as initiative of
individual members. The some of main directions of LEB's current activities are:
 Studies of the local fauna, distribution and ecology
of Latvian arthropods. Development of Latvian Insect Data Base; Information
activities are connected with preparation of regional check-lists & catalogues
(currently Acari Gamasina, Insecta Blattoptera, Dermaptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera,
Hymenoptera and Diptera); Mapping of Latvian insects; Studies of the local insect fauna
& ecology of typical biotopes in Latvia. |
| Ecological studies and
monitoring. Ecological studies and monitoring are carried out inside several special
projects as monitoring of Lepidoptera or Coleoptera, or as a part of complex
research/monitoring projects of following Integrated Monitoring scheme, of insect
communities in Nature Conservation areas or insect communities in agricultural or
urbanized landscapes. |
| Taxonomy, biogeography,
phylogeny of selected arthropods groups. Taxonomical, phylogenetical, ecological and
biogeographical studies on the World Cicindelidae, Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Lucanidae, Passalidae, Staphylinidae, Elateridae, Anthicidae,
Trictenotomidae,
Tenebrionidae, Cerambycidae (Coleoptera), Sphingidae (Lepidoptera), Cecidomyiidae
(Diptera), dragonflies (Odonata) and other groups of invertebrates; Redefinition of the
structure of subfamilies, tribes and genera of Anthicidae (Coleoptera) of the World;
Revisional studies on the family Trictenotomidae
(Coleoptera); Systematics, fauna and ecology of Sphingidae (Lepidoptera) in
South-Eastern Asia, especially of Vietnam. |
| Nature conservation
activities. Preparing of the Red Data Book of Latvia, the List of Protected Species,
red List and participation in preparation of Baltic Red Data Book; Establishing of the new
Nature conservation areas (ecological expertise, consultations, studies of local faunas);
Inventory of invertebrates in Nature Conservation areas in Latvia (currently Gauja
National park, Slitere national park, Moricsala State reserve and a lot of small protected
areas). |
| Forest entomology. Forest
entomologists deal with monitoring, control and forecasting of forest pests, mainly
coniferous, testing of pheromones and also microbiological methods against forest pests;
Preparation of the list of indicator species and forest habitat specialists of typical
forest biotopes in Latvia. |
Agricultural entomology. Agricultural
entomologists work under integrated method of pest control in orchards, microbiological
methods for pest control in greenhouses, forecasting and warning of outbreak of pests by
aerobiological investigations, transmission of viral diseases;
Monitoring of epigeous insects in agricultural landscapes. |
| Entomology in Museums. Museum’s
entomologists are taking care on of collections (incl. type depositories), exposition,
collecting new materials; The largest insects collections are situated in the Museum of
Systematic Zoology of Latvian University, Latvian Museum of Natural History, Institute of
Biology and numerous private. |
| Education. Enlightenment
in invertebrates; Preparing of popular books, booklets & brochures for Latvian
inhabitants; Popularization of entomological researches by regular meetings, conferences,
seminars, excursions and related actions. |
| Latvian Insect of a Year.
1999 - Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus,
1758) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae); 2000 - Oryctes nasicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae); 2001
- Psophus stridulus (Orthoptera, Acrididae); 2002 - Acheta domestica
(Orthoptera, Gryllidae); 2003 - family Sphinigidae (Lepidoptera);
2004 - dragonflies of the genus Callopteryx (Odonata);
2005 - Myrmeleon (Neuroptera). |
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