Species Composition and Structure of Beetle Associations in Caves of the Częstochowa Upland, Poland

This paper presents the study’s results on beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) inhabiting caves in Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland. During two years of research, 2084 specimens, representing 105 species from 19 beetle families, were collected. The obtained indicate that many choose to inhabit despite lacking specific adaptations for living such environments. cave entrance zone is most attractive place surface because its climatic conditions are more stable than outside cave, some sunlight present, and availability organic matter high. In deeper parts studied caves, number occurring rapidly decreased. Three recognised as troglobionts, four troglophiles 32 subtroglophiles. Speonomus normandi hydrophilus, Choleva lederiana gracilenta Quedius mesomelinus identified frequent caves. hydrophilus endemic Arize massif Central Pyrenees (France) was experimentally introduced into Dzwonnica (Poland) 1982, while Ch. one troglobitic native Polish Q. imesomelinus a widespread, very common troglophile.