ESCARABAJOS (SCARABAEIDAE: PLEUROSTICTI) DE LA SELVA BAJA DEL BOSQUE PLUVIAL TROPICAL «BP-T», CHOCÓ, COLOMBIA

Abstract

The knowledge of the diversity of scarabs in Colombia in some areas is still very little studied, in order to extend this information the fauna of Scarabaeidae (Pleurosticti) of the lowlands of the tropical rain forest of the Choco-Biogeografico zone was characterized, during the years 2001-2003. Five sampling sites with different composition and degrees of intervention were selected (primary forest, secondary forest, high stubble and agroforestal parcels), corresponding to the municipalities of Itsmina, Lloró, Quibdó, Tado and Union Panamericana, located between the 43 and 150 meters. The capture of the scarabs was made manually and with the use of nets, black light and modified coke-traps, rotten trunk of Brosimum utile H.B.K, Lecythis ampla Miers, Pouteria caimito Radlk, Apeiba aspera Aubl., Inga spp., Cedrela odorata L. and Jacaranda hesperi Dugand among others were explored. A total of 17,840 specimens in 65 species, distributed in 4 subfamilies, 12 tribes and 38 genera were collected. Pelidnota chiriquina Bates, Spodochlamys cupreola Bates, Gymnetis pardalis (G & P), Gymnetis vandepolli (Bates), Hoplopyga ocellata (G & P) and Guatemalica hueti (Chevrolat) are record for Colombia for the first time. The richest subfamily in number of species was Dynastinae with 26 species, followed of Rutelinae with 25, Cetoniinae with 11 and Melolonthinae with 3 species. The richest genera were: Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821: C. amazona (Linné), C. carbonaria Arrow, C. melanocephala (Fabricius), C. pardolocarnoi Dechambe y C. fulgurata Burmeister; Anomala Samouelle, 1819: Anomala cincta Say, A. medellina Ohaus, A. undulata Melsheimer; Gymnetis MacLeay, 1819: Gymnetis coturnix (Burmeister), G. stellata (Latreille), G. holosericea (Voet) and Rutela Latreille, 1802: Rutela heraldica Perty, R. pygidialis Ohaus y R. sanguinolenta Waterhouse. A taxonomic key to identify the 65 species gathered is included. Biological and ecological comments for these species are also provided.