Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) collected in Iranian rice fields and surrounding grasslands

Abstract

Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) comprise a group of species that are present in almost all agro-ecosystems. The fauna of these insects was studied in Iranian rice fields and surrounding grasslands from 2000 to 2005. A total of 18 species from 14 genera ( Aphodius, Pleurophorus, Tropinota, Protaetia, Valgus, Amphimallon, Aplidia, Holochelus, Polyphylla, Chaetopteroplia, Asiopertha, Onthophagus, Scarabaeus, Paroniticellus ) and 6 subfamilies (Aphodiinae, Cetoniinae, Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, Scarabaeinae, Coprinae) were collected. Of these, 9 species are new records for Iran.