Abstract

MARQUEZ, Juan et al. Scarabaeoidea beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Aguascalientes, Mexico. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2022, vol.38, e3812492.  Epub Sep 19, 2022. ISSN 2448-8445.  https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2022.3812492.

In Mexico, the Scarabaeoidea beetles are commonly known as "May beetles", "June beetles" or "San Juan beetles" and in the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, they are not widely known, due to the lack of specialists in the group in that entity and the poor interest by specialists from other institutions outside of Aguascalientes. Therefore, this contribution aims to update the specific richness of Scarabaeoidea and compare it between municipalities, types of vegetation, biogeographic provinces, and protected natural areas; in addition to comparing it with the richness known in other states of the country. To do this, an exhaustive review of beetle records in the literature, in two national entomological collections, and through occasional collections in some sites in the state was made. One hundred and five species of beetles were recorded, of which 36 are first state records and one new species of Phyllophaga remains to be described. Even when this contribution is relevant in the number of species, it is possible that some species are missing to record in the entity due to the lack of systematized sampling, the few records in deciduous forest and xerophytic scrub, the small number of localities with records of beetles and the fact that the largest number of species has occurred in urban areas, among other factors. The current species richness of the state is high compared to states with similar territorial extension and climatic conditions, with the exception of Morelos, and even compared to some states in the north and center of the country with greater territorial extension. 50 % of the species are located in three protected natural areas of the state, highlighting the "Sierra Fría" and the "Agua Zarca" Biological Station, where the study and conservation of biodiversity are promoted.

Keywords : Biodiversity; conservation; beetles; new records; species richness.