The Steppe biocenosis in the last years due to failure of crop rotation, growing weeds that are teeming in fields, including via rhizomatous weeds because of activities of protection and the reduction of fertilizers, increases the amount  of beetle larvae  – wireworms. In this regard, the elucidation of the species composition of beetles in different biocenoses is extremely important for effective control of larvae.

Beetles and larvae of click beetles are different in the quality of the individual phases of development: the adult beetles live on the ground in the herbage and larvae – in soil, litter or rotten wood. The peculiarity of the life cycles Elateridae is a relatively short period living adult stage (more than two–four weeks) and very long period of larval stage (three-five years). Adults feed on pollen and nectar of flowering plants, drink  dew, some are predators or gnaw leaves of plants. The larvae of click beetles (called wireworms), often found in large numbers involved in the processes of soil formation by affecting the porosity of the soil, increasing its aeration, especially in the upper layers. Much of the soil types wireworms are predators, limiting the number of other groups of insect pests in litter in forest and arable soil layers. The larvae of many species developing in the plow layer soil are dangerous pests for sown seed crops and stairs. Wireworm damage grain, oil, various technical, vegetables, melons, fruit and berry crops. The greatest harm is caused to maize, sunflower, beets, barley, tobacco, potato and others.

They feed during growing season and damage the germinating crop seed, that dies and does not constitute sprouts, then gnaw the young plant roots penetrate inside, causing their extinction, underdevelopment and ugliness. During the growing season damaged roots are  infected by pathogens and are susceptible to root rot lesions, leading to deterioration of storage and as a raw material.

Information about the fauna of click beetles in  steppes of Ukraine are quite numerous in the works, but part of the data is somewhat outdated. Besides more attention was paid to the larvae as they can cause considerable damage to crops. However, it is known that adults do not migrate far from the larval habitats, so you can use them as a kind of reference point for more detailed research on the presence of larvae. The aim of the study was to determine the species composition and forest-steppe habitats beetles in the Ukraine, to identify among them the dominant crop pests. Established that beetles fauna is characterized by the stability of species composition. As a result, eight-year survey we have  found 18 species of adult beetles from 9 families. In agrocenosis are represented by 11 species of 6 genera. Number of species is dominated with the genus Agriotes (7 species) and Selatosomus (3 species).

Among them are representative of typical dendrofil – Ampedus sanguineus L. Adults live mostly hidden. They were found in the trough of molasses. Their larvae develop in rotten wood. This group belongs to Crepidophorus multilatus Rosh. The larvae of this species predators in hollows and develop broad-leaved trees. At the edge of the forest and forest belts found Cidnopus minutus L., larvae belong to the second ecological group consisting of the species developing in forest soil and litter. This kind of tendency to go beyond the limits of the forest cover and spread to the edges of wood and shelter belts. A significant number of identified beetles belonging to the group evrybiontiv larvae are evenly distributed in the soil under forest cover and open habitats. This species from different genera: Agrypnus murinus L., Selatosomus aeneus L., Selatosomus latus F. Their larvae are primary pests to crops. Adults do not cause harm, eat pollen and nectar of flowering plants, often lick sweet selection of aphids and can eat them, showing the ability to predatory mode of supply. In species dominated the fourth environmental group – residents of open habitats – meadows and arable land. This includes the majority of economically important species of wireworms that significant harm or may harm the field crops. The most important are Agriotes sputator L., Agriotes ustulatus Schall. and Melanotus brunnipes Germ. In the forest, on perennial legumes and soy found in a large number Adrastus rachifer Geoffr. In the cultural field is capable of forming cells to 30 larvae per m². As the number of adults revealed predominant genus Agriotes. It accounts for 40,2 % of all identified beetles. Moreover, only 2 species (A. sputator L. and A. ustulatus Schall.). The percentage of sorts Adrastus is 36,1 %. Important in economic terms are beetles genus Melanotus (5,7 %) and Selatosomus (4,9 %). The basic number of adult beetles was found in perennial leguminous grasses (43,4 %) and in forest (40,2 %). Far fewer beetles inhabited crops of soybean, lupine, rape.

Key words: click beetles, wireworms, biocenosis, edges of wood, shelter belts, perennial leguminous grasses.