Review of Diversity and Abundance of Coleopteran Species in the Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Beetles constitute a major component of insect diversity and play important ecological roles in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The order Coleoptera is characterized by hardened forewings, known as elytra, which protect the membranous hind wings. Beetles exhibit diverse feeding habits and occupy a wide range of habitats (Jadhao and Bhongade, 2018; Wankhade et al., 2014). The diversity of beetles is extensive, and different species are associated with vegetation, soil, litter, dung, decaying organic matter and aquatic habitats (Indurkar, 2023; Shirbhate and Shirbhate, 2020). The order Coleoptera is well represented in terrestrial habitats and has been considered useful in studies of environmental change because of habitat specificity and associations with soil and ground litter (Wankhade et al., 2014). However, studies on beetle diversity in the Vidarbha region are scattered and concentrated in particular localities. The present review compiles and summarizes published information on coleopteran diversity and abundance from different parts of Vidarbha, including 97 scarab beetle species from different habitats of Vidarbha (Khadakkar et al., 2018), 26 scarab beetle species from the Kolkas region of Melghat Tiger Reserve (Thakare et al., 2011), 42 beetle species from the Mul region of Chandrapur district (Ghagargunde and Paingankar, 2024), 27 beetle species from Girgaon in Chandrapur district (Indurkar, 2023), 12 beetle species from the vicinity of Semadoh Makhala Road, Sipna Range, Melghat Tiger Reserve (Thakare and Zade, 2012), 90 beetle species from forest and agricultural areas of Akola district (Shirbhate and Shirbhate, 2020), 36 beetle species from the Southern Satpuda foothills region of Morshi, Amravati (Pidhekar, 2019), and 27 beetle species from the Sawanga Vithoba Lake region of Amravati (Wankhade et al., 2014). The available literature indicates considerable coleopteran diversity in Vidarbha; however, comprehensive region wide inventories using standardized sampling methods are lacking. The reviewed studies indicate that beetle communities vary among habitats and environmental conditions, with seasonal and habitat related differences reported from several localities of Vidarbha (Wankhade et al., 2014; Bajad et al., 2019). The review identifies variations in Vidarbha’s beetle diversity and highlights research gaps requiring standardized sampling, taxonomic identification, and long-term monitoring.