Larvas de escarabajos del suelo en México (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae)

Abstract

A Brief review on the ecológical Importance of edaphicolous larvae (Coleóptera Melolonthidae) with emphasis in México is presented. These species may present densíties up to 600 larvae/m^; they can reach 3-90 mm In body length and 0.05-27 g in fresh weight; they are good soil diggers and need 45- 80 times its body weight in roots or soil organic matter to complete their, usually, one year life cycle. Therefore these larvae have an outstanding role in natural or disturbad soil communities all over the worid. In México at least 870 species of Melolonthidae with edaphicolous larvae have been reportes, being highest diversities located in the States of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz. The best representad genera are: Phyllophaga (285 spp), Diplotaxis (170 spp). Anómala (76 spp), and Cyclocephala (57 spp), whose larvae may be rhízophagous, saprophagous or facultatives. It is emphasized the need of more detallad studies on the diversity of edaphicolous Melolonthidae in representative localities from México, in order to evalúate the usefulness of white grubs for soil conservation and pest management.