Biodiversity of <scp>C</scp>etoniinae beetles (<scp>C</scp>oleoptera: <scp>S</scp>carabaeidae) in introduced and native habitats in the <scp>B</scp>razilian <scp>A</scp>tlantic <scp>F</scp>orest

Abstract

Abstract The ecology of the beetles of the subfamily C etoniinae ( C oleoptera: S carabaeidae) is relatively poorly known worldwide. In the neotropics in particular, there are far less studies than in other biogeographic regions. In part due to this lack of knowledge, cetoniines are not considered indicators of habitat quality in the N eotropical region. In this study, we compare the abundance, diversity, and species composition of cetoniines in three different habitats in B razil: two exotic ( B rachiaria pasturelands and eucalyptus plantation) and one native ( B razilian A tlantic F orest). We also provide diagnostic images of both sexes and of the genitalia of males of all species to facilitate species identification in further studies. The beetles were collected weekly from S eptember to D ecember 2012 with traps baited with fermented fruit, in five eucalyptus plantations ( E ucalyptus grandis H ill ex M aiden), five exotic pasturelands ( B rachiaria spp.), and five patches of B razilian A tlantic F orest. The abundance and diversity of cetoniines was found to be lower in the eucalyptus plantations and about the same in the forest and pasturelands. The low diversity found and the little information available on the ecology of N eotropical C etoniinae is insufficient to propose these beetles as candidates for the habitat evaluation in B razil.