In eight forest types, 43 species of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from 15 genera were caught. Species variety in different forest types fluctuated from 0.47 in Pinetum ledo-sphagnosum pine stand to 2.66 in Betuletum calamagrostidosum birch forest. The highest number of species and species variety was ascertained in deciduous forests. According to the qualitative data on the similarity of ground beetle species composition, the forest types were divided into two groups: 1 – temporarily overmoistured, waterlogged and boggy forests – Betuletum oxalido-nemorosum, Betuletum calamagrostidosum, Pinetum carico-sphagnosum, Alnetum caricosum, and 2 – Picetum myrtillosum and Picetum myrtillo-oxalidosum. Pinetum ledo-sphagnosum and Picetum oxalidosum according to qualitative indices were hardly similar to other forest types.

According to humidity requirements, ground beetle species were distributed as follows: 57% were hygrophilous, 36% mesophilous and 7% eurihygrophilous species. According to the number of individuals, 73% of ground beetles belonged to mesophilous, hygrophilous and 3% to eurihygrophilous species.

According to zoogeographical characteristics, most (84%) of ground beetles belonged to boreal species. The greatest portion of boreal ground beetles was found in Pinetum ledo-sphagnosum pine (100%) and Picetum myrtillo-oxalidosum spruce stands (95%) and the greatest portion of paratetic species in the Picetum oxalidosum spruce stand (46%).

Keywords: ground beetles, specific composition, variety, forest type