ON SCARAB BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE) FROM SIDHI DISTRICT OF MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA
KAILASH CHANDRA *
ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, M. BLOCK, NEWALIPORE, KOLKATA-700 053, INDIA
DEVANSHU GUPTA *
ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, M. BLOCK, NEWALIPORE, KOLKATA-700 053, INDIA
S.C. GOEL *
PG-DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, SANATANDHARM COLLEGE, MUZAFFARNAGAR-251 001, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The family Scarabaeidae from Sidhi district of the state Madhya Pradesh comprise a small collection of scarab beetles belonging to 53 species, 27 genera and 6 subfamilies; Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae, Rutelinae, Melolonthinae, Cetoniinae and Dynastinae. The subfamily Scarabaeinae includes 36 species, Aphodiinae 2 species, Rutelinae 9 species, Dynastinae 3 species, Cetoniinae 2 species and Melolonthinae 1 species. The subfamilies, Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae include the beetles which exclusively feed on dung and carrion whereas the beetles in the subfamilies. Rutelinae, Melolonthinae, Cetoniinae and Dynastinae are pests of various commercial crops of agricultural and forestry importance.
Keywords: Scarabaeidae, Diversity, Central India, Distribution, Dung Beetles