A first faunistic account on the Onthophagus Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) of the Nadia district, West Bengal, with a preliminary checklist from India

Abstract

A survey of the dung beetle fauna from the Nadia district of West Bengal, India resulted in the recognition of 22 species belonging to Onthophagus Latreille, 1802. All these are new reported for the district. Twelve species are also newly recorded for the West Bengal state: Onthophagus (Onthophagus) andrewesi Arrow, 1931; O. (O.) ceylonicus Harold, 1859; O. (Onthophagiellus) crassicollis Boucomont, 1913; O. (Colobonthophagus) hindu Arrow, 1931; O. (O.) mau­ritii Boucomont, 1919; O. (Colobonthophagus) paliceps Arrow, 1931; O. (Colobonthophagus) pardalis (Fabricius, 1798); O. (O.) porcus Arrow, 1931; O. (Eremonthophagus) semicinctus d’Orbigny, 1897; O. (O.) socialis Arrow, 1931; O. (Indonthophagus) turbatus Walker, 1858; and O. (O.) zebra Arrow, 1931. All the recorded taxa are provided with distribution, material examined, diagnostic characters, and remarks. A preliminary checklist of the genus from India based on available literature and physical examination of specimens is also provided.