COLEOPTEROS ASOCIADOS AL FOLLAJE Y FENOLOGIA DE LITHREA CAUSTICA (MOL.) (ANACARDIACEAE) EN UN FRAGMENTO DE BOSQUE COSTERO,VIII REGION, CHILE

the taxonomic composition and species richness of beetles associated to the foliage of lithrea caustica in fundo escuadrón, coronel commune, concepción province ( 72° 59' 09'' w and 36° 58' 47'' s) during the winter and the spring 2002 were analized. we suspect that there exist a relationship between the abundance and species richness of foliage beetles and the phenological changes of "litre". to test this hypothesis 30 random "litres" were chosen and sampled considering their vegetative grow, vegetative and floral bud, leaves number and flowering timing. the insects were collected by mean of foliage beating sheet and identified to species or morphospecies level. the result showed that beetles species richness and abundance increase in relation to the phenological changes of l. caustica. coleopterans were represented by 7 families, 7 genera and 9 species in winter and 15 families, 19 genera and 22 species in spring. species richness and abundance were higher in december (last sample of spring) with 338 individuals and 22 species. during the winter three species coccinellidae were most commonly found. in each sample adalia angulifera (n=30) was most common species showing high values of relative abundance. adalia angulifera (n=46), discodon rubromarginatus (n= 132) and bolitobius sp. (n=65) they were more common species in spring. low values of abundance and species richness of phytophages insects and lack of some taxa are discussed. the effect patch-size increasing interspecific competition or may be the anthropic effect could be involved