Faunistic study of the Coleoptera Melolonthidae (Scarabaeoidea) from rancho Canaletas, Paso del Macho, Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

Comparative analysis of beetles of the family Melolonthidae established in rancho Canaletas, Paso del Macho, in the centre of the state of Veracruz, México is presented. Data were obtained from January to December 2008, in evergreen rain forest (SP) and plantations of sugar cane (ZA), located at 500 m altitude. By mean of light traps, rotten fruit traps and hand collecting, 557 specimens were obtained, representing 5 subfamilies, 13 genera and 42 species. Of all the species collected, 10 had exclusive distribution in SP and 16 were distributed only in ZA. The agricultural area showed higher richness (32) and abundance (422) than the evergreen forest zone (richness 26 and abundance 135). Phyllophaga temora, P. pubicollis, Paranomala inconstans, and Phalangogonia jamesonae are recorded by first time for the state of Veracruz. By mean of parsimony analysis of endemicity the close affinity between the fauna of Melolonthidae from Rancho Canaletas, Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz and Boca de Chajul, Chiapas is evidenced.