A Survey of the Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Several Natural Areas Across Indiana, U.S.A.

Abstract

Over the past decade a survey of the beetle (Insecta: Coleoptera) fauna of several managed parks and natural areas across the state of Indiana, USA, was undertaken. These areas represent many of the habitat types present in Indiana, including forests, grassland, freshwater streams, and wetlands, as well as more unique habitats found in limited areas of the state such as sand dunes and cypress swamps. The specific localities are: Indiana Dunes State Park, Kankakee Sands, Ross Hills Park, Shades State Park, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, and Twin Swamps Nature Preserve. Beetles were surveyed using a variety of active and passive collecting techniques and specimens were then identified to the lowest possible level, often by world authorities for each group. Results are given as numbers of families, genera, and species for each property, in addition to a total combined species list summarizing all the efforts presented. A total of 1,328 species from these six nature preserves is recorded.