A review of scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) diversity in India

Abstract

The diversified geographic location along with climatic conditions has led to the enrichment of fauna species in India. Coleoptera (Gk. Coleos–sheath, ptera–wing) are the largest group of organisms at the order level and are comprised of beetles. They adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and are widely distributed. The family Scarabaeidae which is included in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea is one of the largest families. They consist of about 27,800 species worldwide and are further divided into 16 subfamilies, 82 tribes and 94 sub-tribes. They are usually harmful or beneficial in nature with their size being large to small. The research on scarab beetles is necessary to understand their role as pest as well as their adaptation to different anthropogenic activities. Also, the diversified population of scarab beetles along with their similar characters makes it hard for researchers to identify them often leading to misidentification which is why a review is needed. This review summarizes the status, diversity and ecological status of scarab beetles in India.