Records of the Zoological Survey of India - A Journal of Indian Zoology

R. K. Kushwaha ¹, V. D. Hegde ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Melaenus piger (Fab.) is commonly distributed in southern part of Indian peninsula. During study of the specimens recently collected from Uttar Pradesh, strikingly a single specimen irom Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh has been noticed. There are only two species of the genus Melaenus Dejean, in the world; one species M. elegans Dejean in Afrotropical region and the other M. piger (Fab.) in Oriental region.

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R. K. Kushwaha ¹, V. D. Hegde ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Scaritine Ground beetles are dark in color; body pedunculate and nearly cylindrical, sometimes slightly flattened; legs digitate and with variable spurs which are suitable for digging; eyes well developed but not so much externally protruding. Scarites can be differentiated from other genera of the group by hooked maxillae, one supraorbital seta, head without central tubercle, and extended buccal fissure. Scarites is represented by nearly 55 species in Indian Subcontinent. These beetles are generally found on moist, sandy or loose soil and make deep burrows in the soil and rest there during day times and come out in the night.

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