Abstract
Here, we investigated the diversity of Sericini in the faunistically rather unknown Lower Gangetic plains in North India, based on material from the collection of the Zoological Survey of India. We discovered one new species from West Bengal, Maladera kolkataensis Bhunia, Gupta, Sarkar & Ahrens, and provide further records of an additional 23 species belonging to five genera from the lowlands of the states Bihar and West Bengal. Out of these, 21 species represent new state records: 12 for Bihar and nine for West Bengal. All recorded species are briefly documented by diagnostic illustrations.
References
- Ahrens, D. (1995a) Calloserica poggii n. sp.—eine neue Art aus dem Himalaya (Col., Scarabaeoidea, Sericinae). Entomologische Nachrichten und Berichte, 39, 137–138.
- Ahrens, D. (1995b) Taxonomische Studien an Sericinae. Die Gattungen Deroserica Moser, 1915, Microsericaria Nikolaev, 1979, Pachyderoserica Moser, 1920 und Microserica Brenske, 1894. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melolonthidae). Entomologische Abhandlungen, 57, 37–56.
- Ahrens, D. (1996) Revision der Sericini des Himalaya und angrenzender Gebiete. Die Gattungen Lasioserica Brenske, 1896 und Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1896. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea). Coleoptera, Schwanfelder Coleopterologische Mitteilungen, 16, 1–48.
- Ahrens, D. (1998a) Revision der Sericinae des Himalaya-Gebiets. Neue Arten der Microserica marginata (BRSK.)—Gruppe (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melolonthidae). Entomologische Abhandlungen, 58, 29–51.
- Ahrens, D. (1998b) Autoserica caifensis Brenske, 1897—eine vergessene Art aus dem östlichen mediterranen Raum (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melolonthidae). Reichenbachia, 32, 267–270.
- Ahrens, D. (1999a) Eine neue Art der Microserica marginata—Gruppe aus Ost-Nepal. (Coleoptera: Melonthidae: Sericini). Entomologische Abhandlungen, 58, 243–246.
- Ahrens, D. (1999b) New species and records of Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1896, Calloserica Brenske, 1894, Nepaloserica Frey, 1965 and Lasioserica Brenske, 1896 from the Himalayas and adjacent regions. (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae, Sericini). Entomologische Abhandlungen, 58, 181–242.
- Ahrens, D. (1999c) Revision der Gattung Serica (s.str.) MacLeay des Himalaya-Gebiets (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae). Fragmenta Entomologica, 31, 205–332.
- Ahrens, D. (2000a) New species of Calloserica Brenske, 1894 from Sikkim and Nepal (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Sericini). Zoosystema, 22, 815–824.
- Ahrens, D. (2000b) The Fauna of the Arabian Peninsula: Sericinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea). Fauna of Arabia, 18, 177–210.
- Ahrens, D. (2000c) Zwei neue Nipponoserica-Arten aus dem Himalaya (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae, Sericini). Entomofauna, 21, 25–30.
- Ahrens, D. (2000d) Eine neue Serica-Art aus dem Dhaulagiri-Himal (Nepal) (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae). Fragmenta Entomologica, 32, 287–291.
- Ahrens, D. (2000e) Weiteres Material der Gattung Lasioserica Brenske, 1896, mit der Beschreibung acht neuer Arten (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Sericini). Acta Musei Moraviae, Series Biologica, 85, 1–28.
- Ahrens, D. (2000f) Neue Erkenntnisse zur Herkunft von Autoserica caifensis Brenske, 1897 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melolonthidae). Linzer Biologische Beiträge, 32, 71–74.
- Ahrens, D. (2001a) Further records of Microserica Brenske, 1894 from the Himalayas with description of a new species of the subgenus Parvulomaladera Ahrens, 1995. Part 1. (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Sericini). Lambillionea, 101, 216–224.
- Ahrens, D. (2001b) Zwei neue Chrysoserica-Arten aus dem Himalaya. (Coleoptera Melolonthidae). Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana, 133, 133–147.
- Ahrens, D. (2002) Revision der Arten der Microserica viridicollis Arrow, 1913—Gruppe (Coleoptera, Melolonthinae, Sericini). Linzer Biologische Beiträge, 34, 383–412.
- Ahrens, D. (2003a) Maladera affinis (Blanchard, 1850) comb. n. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Sericini), an oriental faunal element in the Malagasy region. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 50 (1), 133–142. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.20030500113
- Ahrens, D. (2003b) Neue Arten aus der Gruppe der Amiserica insperata (Brenske, 1898) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Sericini). Spixiana, 26, 65–81.
- Ahrens, D. (2004a) Two new species of Sericini from Western Nepal (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini). In: Hartmann, M. & Baumbach, H. (Eds.), Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya. Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Naturkundemuseums Erfurt e.V., Erfurt, pp. 211–213.
- Ahrens, D. (2004b) Monographie der Sericini des Himalaya (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Dissertation.de—Verlag im Internet GmbH, Berlin, 534 pp.
- Ahrens, D. (2004c) Revision of the Microserica lineata group (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini). Zootaxa, 664, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.667.1.1
- Ahrens, D. (2004d) Revisional notes on Sericinae: The taxonomic status of the “Neotropical” genus Rhynchosymmela Frey, 1974 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Beiträge zur Entomologie, 54, 31–35. https://doi.org/10.21248/contrib.entomol.54.1.31-35
- Ahrens, D. (2004e) Phylogeny and zoogeography of the Sericini in the Himalayan region. PhD thesis, Freie Universität Berlin, 226 pp. [http://www.diss.fu-berlin.de/diss/receive/FUDISS_ thesis_000000001385]
- Ahrens, D. (2005a) A taxonomic review on the Serica (s.str.) MacLeay, 1819 species of Asiatic mainland (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini). Nova Supplemeta Entomologica, 18, 1–163.
- Ahrens, D. (2005b) The diversification of the endemic Himalayan monsoon-season beetles genus Calloserica inferred from a cladistic analysis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini). Invertebrate Systematics, 19, 217–230. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS04030
- Ahrens, D. (2005c) A preliminary cladistic analysis of Nipponoserica, with implications on phylogenetic relationships among sericine chafers (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Systematics and Biodiversity, 3, 265–279. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1477200005001751
- Ahrens, D. (2005d) New material of the genus Lasioserica Brenske, 1896 with the description of four new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini). Linzer Biologische Beiträge, 37/1, 771–781.
- Ahrens, D. (2006a) Additional data on taxonomy and distribution on Sericini of the Himalayas, with description a further new species of Maladera (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). In: Hartmann, M. & Baumbach, H. (Eds.), Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya. Vol. 1. Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Naturkundemuseums Erfurt e.V., Erfurt, pp. 409–418.
- Ahrens, D. (2006b) Revision und phylogenetische Analyse der Gattung Pachyserica Brenske, 1897 (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Sericini). Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 113, 487–557. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.80360
- Ahrens, D. (2006c) The phylogeny of the genus Lasioserica inferred from adult morphology—implications on the evolution of montane fauna of the South Asian orogenic belt (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 44, 34–53. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0469.2005.00340.x
- Ahrens, D. (2006d) Cladistic analysis of Maladera (Omaladera): implications on taxonomy, evolution and biogeography of the Himalayan species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini). Organisms, Diversity and Evolution, 6, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ode.2005.01.002
- Ahrens, D. (2006e) The phylogeny of Sericini and their position within the Scarabaeidae based on morphological characters (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Systematic Entomology, 31, 113–144. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2005.00307.x
- Ahrens, D. (2007a) Beetle evolution in the Asian highlands: insight from a phylogeny of the scarabaeid subgenus Serica (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Systematic Entomology, 32, 450–476. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2006.00373.x
- Ahrens, D. (2007b) Cladistic analysis of Sericania (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae: Sericini) – implications on the evolution of the xerophilous fauna of the Himalaya. European Journal of Entomology, 104, 517–530. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2007.072
- Ahrens, D. (2007c) Taxonomic changes and an updated Catalogue of Palearctic Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Zootaxa, 1504 (1), 1–51. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1504.1.1
- Ahrens, D. (2012) New species and a morphology-based phylogeny of the genus Nepaloserica (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). In: Hartmann, M. and Weipert, M. (Eds.), Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya III. Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Naturkundemuseums Erfurt e.V., Erfurt, pp. 305–316.
- Ahrens, D. & Fabrizi, S. (2009a) A review on the genus Gynaecoserica Brenske, 1897 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini). Journal of Natural History, 43, 1505–1584. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930902968809
- Ahrens, D. & Fabrizi, S. (2009b) New species of Sericini from the Eastern Himalaya and Tibet (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). In: Hartmann, M. & Weipert, M. (Eds.), Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya III. Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Naturkundemuseums Erfurt e.V., Erfurt, pp. 249–284.
- Ahrens, D. & Fabrizi, S. (2011) New species of Sericini from the Himalaya and adjacent mountains (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Bonn zoological Bulletin, 60 (2), 139–164.
- Ahrens, D. & Fabrizi, S. (2016) A monograph of the Sericini of India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Bonn zoological Bulletin, 65, 1–355.
- Ahrens, D., Gc, Y.D., Lago, P. & Nagel, P. (2009) Seasonal fluctuation, phenology and turnover of chafer assemblages—insight to the structural plasticity of insect communities in tropical farmland (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 11, 265–274. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-9563.2008.00439.x
- Ahrens, D., Liu, W.G., Lukic, D. & Bai, M. (2023) A taxonomic review of Microserica from continental Asia (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae, Sericini). Zootaxa, 5241 (1), 1–115. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5241.1.1
- Ahrens, D. & Pacholátko, P. (2005) Zwei neue Arten aus der Gruppe der Amiserica insperata (Brenske, 1898) aus dem nordöstlichen Indien und Myanmar (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini). Koleopterologische Rundschau, 75, 311–317.
- Ahrens, D. & Sabatinelli, G. (1996) Revision der Gattung Nepaloserica Frey (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae). Fragmenta Entomologica, 28, 209–243.
- Barlow, E. (1899) List of the Melolonthini contained in the collection of the Indian Museum. Indian Museum Notes, 4, 233–272.
- Bhunia, D., Gupta, D., Chandra, K. & Ahrens, D. (2021) New species and records of Sericini of India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) II. Zootaxa, 5081 (4), 594–600. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5081.4.10
- Bhunia, D., Gupta, D., Chandra, K. & Ahrens, D. (2022) New species and records of Sericini of India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) III. Zootaxa, 5200 (2), 489–494. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5200.5.6
- Blanchard, C. (1850) Ier Famille—Scarabaeidae. In: Milne-Edwards, H., Blanchard, C.E. & Lucas, H. (Eds.), Catalogue de la collection entomologique du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris. Classe des insectes. Ordre des Coléoptères. Tome I. Première livraison. Gide et Baudry, Paris, pp. 1–128.
- Brenske, E. (1894) Die Melolonthiden der palaearktischen und orientalischen Region im Königlichen naturhistorischen Museum zu Brüssel. Beschreibung neuer Arten und Bemerkung zu bekannten. Memoire de la Société Entomologique de Belgique, 2, 3–87.
- Brenske, E. (1896) Insectes du Bengale. Melolonthidae. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique, 40, 150–164.
- Brenske, E. (1898) Die Serica-Arten der Erde. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 43, 205–403. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.47918980303
- Brenske, E. (1899) Die Serica-Arten der Erde. III. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 44, 161–272.
- Brenske, E. (1900) Die Serica-Arten der Erde. IV. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 45, 39–96. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.47919000105
- Brenske, E. (1902) Die Serica-Arten der Erde. VII. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 47, 1–70.
- Burmeister, H. (1855) Handbuch der Entomologie. 4. Band. Besondere Entomologie, Fortsetzung. 2. Abteilung, Coleoptera Lamellicornia Phyllophaga chaenochela. Theod. Chr. Fr. Enslin, Berlin, 467 pp.
- Chandra, K., Ahrens, D., Bhunia, D., Sreedevi, K. & Gupta, D. (2021) New species and records of Sericini from India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Zootaxa, 4951 (3), 492–510. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4951.3.4
- Coquerel, C. (1866) Faune de Bourbon (Ile de la Réunion). Coléoptères. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 4, 293–340.
- Dalla Torre, K.W. von (1912) Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae I. In: Junk, W. & Schenkling, S. (Eds.), Coleopterorum Catalogus. Vol. XX. Pars 45. W. Junk, Berlin, pp. 1–84.
- Dietz, L., Seidel, M., Eberle, J., Misof, B., Pacheco, T.L., Podsiadlowski, L., Ranasinghe, S., Gunter, N.L., Niehuis, O., Mayer, C. & Ahrens, D. (2023) A transcriptome-based phylogeny of Scarabaeoidea confirms the sister group relationship of dung beetles and phytophagous pleurostict scarabs (Coleoptera). Systematic Entomology, 2023, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12602
- Eberle, J., Fabrizi, S., Lago, P. & Ahrens, D. (2017) A historical biogeography of megadiverse Sericini—another story “out of Africa”? Cladistics, 33, 183–197. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12162
- Eberle, J., Myburgh, R. & Ahrens, D. (2014) The evolution of morphospace in phytophagous scarab chafers: no competition—no divergence? Plos One, 9 (5), e98536. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0098536
- Fabrizi, S. & Ahrens, D. (2014) A monograph of the Sericini of Sri Lanka (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Bonn Zoological Bulletin, Supplements 61, 1–124.
- Frey, G. (1965) Neue Sericinen aus dem nordöstlichen Himalaya. Khumbu Himal, Ergebnisse des Forschungsunternehmens Nepal Himalaya, 2, 88–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-92901-4_6
- Frey, G. (1969) Neue Lamellicornia aus Südostasien und Australien. Entomologische Arbeiten aus dem Museum G. Frey, 20, 106–116.
- Frey, G. (1975) Ergebnisse der Bhutan Expedition 1972 des Naturhistorischen Museums in Basel. Col.: Fam. Scarabaeidae, subf. Melolonthidae. Entomologica Basiliensia, 1, 223–241.
- Grandidier, A. (1900) Liste des Insectes Coleoptera de la Region Malgache. Histoire physique, naturelle et politique de Madagascar, 21, Tome 1 (Texte), 1RE Partie, 1–509.
- Hope, F.W. (1831) Synopsis of the species of Nepaul Insects in the collection of Major General Hardwicke. Zoological Miscellany, 1, 21–33.
- Krajcik, M. (2012) Checklist of the World Scarabaeoidea. Animma.x, supplement 5, 1–278.
- Liu, W.G., Bai, M., Eberle, J., Yang, X.K. & Ahrens, D. (2015) A phylogeny of Sericini with particular reference to Chinese species using mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Organisms, Diversity and Evolution, 15, 343–350. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-015-0204-z
- Liu, W.G., Bai, M., Yang, X.K. & Ahrens, D. (2014) Towards an improved knowledge of Sericini of the Tibetan highland: new species and records (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Bonn zoological Bulletin, 63 (2), 157–172.
- Mittal, I.C. (1976) A new species of Maladera Mulsant (Col., Scar.) from India. Journal of New York Entomological Society, 84, 180–181.
- Moser, J. (1913) Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Melolonthiden. I. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 1913, 271–297.
- Moser, J. (1915) Neue Serica-Arten. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 1915, 337–393.
- Moser, J. (1918) Neue Melolonthiden aus der Sammlung des Deutschen Entomologischen Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 79, 209–247. https://doi.org/10.1002/mmnd.191519150402
- Moser, J. (1919) Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Melolonthiden. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, 80, 330–364.
- Nikolajev, G.V. (1979) Neue Gattungen und Untergattungen der Blatthornkäfer. Reichenbachia, 17 (23), 189–191.
- Özgül-Siemund, A. & Ahrens, D. (2015) Taxonomic utility of female copulation organs in Sericini chafers (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), with special reference to asymmetry. Contributions to Zoology, 84 (2), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1163/18759866-08402005
- Pacheco, T.L., Monné, M.L. & Ahrens, D. (2021) The morphospace of Neotropical Sericini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)—a comparative analysis towards the relationship of shape disparity vs. species diversity. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution, 22, 177–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-021-00530-y
- Petrovitz, R. (1965) Österreichische entomologische Expeditionen nach Persien und Afghanistan. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien, 68, 671–694.
- Rodgers, W.A. & Panwar, H.S. (1988) Planning a Wildlife Protected Area Network in India. Vol. I. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 339 pp.
- Sabatinelli, G. (1993) Catalogue of the Scarabaeoidea Melolonthidae from Himalaya and Norther India: Macrodactylini, Hoplini, Diplotaxini, Melolonthini and Sericini. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana, 71 (1992), 593–636.
- Sabatinelli, G. & Ahrens, D. (2015) New records and a checklist of Sericini from Pakistan (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Scarabaeidae). Revista gaditana de Entomología, 6 (1), 137–150.
- Šípek, P. & Ahrens, D. (2011) Inferring larval taxonomy and morphology in Maladera species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini) using DNA taxonomy tools. Systematic Entomology, 36, 628–643. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2011.00582.x
- Shrestha, J., Eberle, J. & Ahrens, D. (2012) Further data on the distribution of Himalayan Sericini from the collection of Naturel History Museum Erfurt (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with description of a new Xenoserica from West-Nepal. Vernate, 31, 379–386.
- Sreedevi, K., Ranasinghe, S., Fabrizi, S. & Ahrens, D. (2019) New species and records of Sericini from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) II. European Journal of Taxonomy, 567, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2019.567
- Sreedevi, K., Speer, J., Fabrizi, S. & Ahrens, D. (2018) New species and records of Sericini scarab beetles from the Indian subcontinent (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). ZooKeys, 772, 97–128. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.772.25320