Abstract The effect of land use on the diversity of necrophilous and epigeal beetles in a semi-arid zone of the Estado de México was studied, we tested the following hypothesis: areas dedicated to agricultural production represent a refuge for species of Staphylinidae, Trogidae and Silphidae. Monthly sampling was carried out during one year with pitfall and carrion traps. Traps were distributed in three locations with different land use (agricultural, suburban and urban area). In the agricultural zone the abundance and richness were greater, but the diversity was significantly less than registered in the suburban and urban area, because two species (Nicrophorus mexicanus Mattews, 1888 and Belonuchus sp.) concentrated 70% of abundance in the agricultural area, while in the other two areas the species had greater evenness. Spatial species turnover and nestedness contributed equally to the variation in the composition of the species assemblages between sites, the agricultural zone harbored 70.6% of the species that were present both in the urban and in the suburban area or in any of these, also they have the greater number of species with high affinity for this site. The results suggest that the agricultural area functions as a refuge for the necrophilous and epigeal beetle species that are distributed in this semi-arid region, whose populations were favored throughout the year due to the constant contribution of organic matter and moisture. Finally, regarding the inventory of species, Belonuchus erichsoni Bernhauer, 1917 was registered for the first time for the Estado de México.

Resumen Se estudió el efecto del uso de suelo sobre la diversidad de coleópteros necrófilos y epigeos en una zona semiárida del Estado de México, poniendo a prueba la siguiente hipótesis: las áreas dedicadas a la producción agrícola representan un refugio para las especies de Staphylinidae, Trogidae y Silphidae. Para lo cual se realizaron muestreos mensuales durante un año con trampas de caída y trampas tipo NTP-80 cebadas con carroña. Ambas trampas fueron distribuidas en tres localidades con diferente uso de suelo (zona agrícola, zona suburbana y zona urbana). En la zona agrícola la abundancia y riqueza fueron mayores, y la diversidad fue significativamente menor que lo registrado en la zona suburbana y urbana, debido a que en la zona agrícola dos especies (Nicrophorus mexicanus Mattews, 1888 y Belonuchus sp.) concentraron el 70% de la abundancia, mientras que en las otras dos zonas las especies tuvieron mayor equidad. El recambio espacial de especies y el anidamiento contribuyeron de manera similar en la variación de la composición del ensamble de especies entre los sitios, la zona agrícola albergó el 70.6% de las especies que estuvieron presentes tanto en la zona urbana como en la zona suburbana o en alguna de éstas, así como un mayor número de especies con afinidad alta por este sitio, lo que sugiere que la zona agrícola funciona como refugio de las especies de coleópteros necrófilos y epigeos que se distribuyen en esta región semiárida, cuyas poblaciones se vieron favorecidas durante todo el año, debido al aporte constante de materia orgánica y humedad. Finalmente, en cuanto al inventario de especies, se registró a Belonuchus erichsoni Bernhauer, 1917 por primera vez para el Estado de México.

Abstract: The glens of Coatepec Harinas in the southern part of Nevado de Toluca are of conservation concern because of their biological integrity. This study reveals the composition of the Scarabaeidae, Geotrupidae, Hybosoridae, Trogidae and Silphidae of the Coatepec Harinas’ glens, and analyzes their abundance, species richness, diversity and seasonality. Such information can be used for further comparative studies conducted outside the glens. Monthly samples were obtained during a year using traps type NTP-80 baited with squid in an oak forest with some elements of cloud forest. A total amount of 1,513 individuals belonging to 9 species and 8 genera were collected. Silphidae (94.3%) was the most abundant family, followed by Scarabaeidae (4.7%), both of which had 3 species each; the remaining families had 1 species and less than 10 specimens. Moreover, Nicrophorus mexicanus Matthews, 1888 (Silphidae), Nicrophorus olidus Matthews, 1888 (Silphidae), Oxelytrum discicolle (Brullè, 1840) (Silphidae) and Oniticellus rhinocerulus Bates, 1889 (Scarabaeidae) grouped together 99% of individuals. Germarostes Paulian, 1982 (Hybosoridae) was recorded for the first time in the Estado de México. The seasonality was evident, 87.5% of the abundance and the 9 species were collected during the rainy season. The diversity of plants and tree canopy cover, as well as the presence of the stream, propitiated favorable conditions for the 4 most abundant species.

Resumen: Las cañadas de Coatepec Harinas, ubicadas al sur del Nevado de Toluca, son de interés para la conservación por su integridad biológica. En este estudio se presenta la composición de Scarabaeidae, Geotrupidae, Hybosoridae, Trogidae y Silphidae, además se analizan aspectos como abundancia, riqueza, diversidad y estacionalidad. Esta información servirá para el desarrollo de estudios comparativos posteriores realizados fuera de las cañadas. Los muestreos fueron mensuales durante un año con trampas tipo NTP-80 cebadas con calamar, en un bosque de encino con elementos de mesófilo de montaña. Se obtuvieron 1,513 individuos pertenecientes a 9 especies y 8 géneros. Silphidae (94.3%) fue la familia más abundante, seguida por Scarabaeidae (4.7%), ambas con 3 especies cada una; las restantes, una especie y menos de 10 ejemplares. Nicrophorus mexicanus Matthews, 1888 (Silphidae), Nicrophorus olidus Matthews, 1888 (Silphidae), Oxelytrum discicolle (Brullè, 1840) (Silphidae) y Oniticellus rhinocerulus Bates, 1889 (Scarabaeidae) agruparon el 99%. Germarostes Paulian, 1982 (Hybosoridae) se registró por primera vez para el Estado de México. La estacionalidad fue marcada: el 87.5% de la abundancia y las 9 especies obtenidas se registraron en las lluvias. La diversidad y la cobertura de la vegetación, así como la presencia de arroyos, propiciaron condiciones favorables para las 4 especies más abundantes.

A study on Platypodinae and Scolytinae in a semi-arid area from Zapotitlán de las Salinas, Puebla, Mexico was done. Samples were taken monthly from April 1998 to March 1999 using NTP-80 carrion traps baited with squid. Conservative liquid composed of acetic acid and alcohol, served as attractant to these groups. The traps were distributed in five locations (columnar cacti, mezquite terraces, riparian mezquite, mezquite unfragmented and undisturbed vegetation). A total of 328 individuals of five species of Scolytinae and one of Platypodinae were collected. Premnobius cavipennis Eichhoff, 1878, Xyleborus posticus Eichhoff, 1869, Monarthrum pennatum Wood & Bright, 1992 and Euplatypus parallelus (Fabricius, 1801) are recorded for the first time for the state of Puebla. The greatest abundance and species richness of Curculionidae were observed on riparian mezquite, major abundance was observed at the end of the rainy season. Given the environmental degradation in the area, this study makes a contribution to the knowledge of Scolytinae and Platypodinae of Puebla, Mexico.

Se realizó el estudio de fauna de la escolitinos y platipodinos en una zona semiárida de Zapotitlán de las Salinas, Puebla, México. Se realizaron muestreos mensuales durante un año, de abril de 1998 a marzo de 1999, empleando trampas de tipo NTP-80 cebadas con calamar. El líquido conservador compuesto de ácido acético y alcohol, sirvió como atrayente para estos grupos. Las trampas fueron distribuidas en cinco localidades (cactáceas columnares, mezquital de terrazas, mezquital ribereño, mezquital no fragmentado y una vegetación no alterada). Se capturaron 328 individuos, cinco especies de Scolytinae y una de Platypodinae. Se registraron por primera vez para el estado de Puebla a Premnobius cavipennis Eichhoff, 1878, Xyleborus posticus Eichhoff, 1869, Monarthrum pennatum Wood y Bright, 1992 y Euplatypusparallelus (Fabricius, 1801). La mayor abundancia y riqueza de especies fue observada en el mezquital ribereño y la presencia de estos grupos de Curculionidae de forma abundante al final de la época de lluvias, lo que podría estar asociado con la disponibilidad de recursos en tiempo y espacio. Este estudio contribuye de manera importante al conocimiento de los escolitinos y platipodinos del estado de Puebla, México.

Las zonas áridas y semiáridas ocupan más de la mitad del territorio de México, sin embargo, son ambientes donde los escarabajos necrófilos han sido escasamente estudiados. En esta investigación se presenta la diversidad y fenología de Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae y Trogidae en el valle de Zapotitlán de las Salinas, Puebla. Se realizaron muestreos mensuales durante un año de abril de 1998 a marzo de 1999 empleando trampas tipo NTP-80 cebadas con calamar, distribuidas en un mezquital y matorral espinoso, en cactáceas columnares y vegetación alterada. Se capturaron 613 individuos de 12 géneros y 15 especies. Staphylinidae tuvo la mayor riqueza (9 especies) y abundancia (74.2%), le siguieron Scarabaeidae (21.9%), Silphidae (2.9%) y Trogidae (1%) con dos especies cada una. La fauna para las dos primeras fue inferior a la observada en otras zonas de México. La máxima abundancia y riqueza estuvieron en la época seca y las comunidades de escarabajos necrófilos prefirieron los sitios con mezquital y matorral, donde permanecieron más tiempo y se registraron todas las especies, por lo tanto los tipos de vegetación presentes fueron el factor más importante que determinó las variaciones locales de abundancia, diversidad y riqueza y no la época de lluvias.

Mexico is constituted of arid and semiarid areas in more than half of its land extension, where most of their resources are available only during the rainy season. For those species that recycle resources, such as the carrion fauna, this represents a highly active season; however, the biological and diversity patterns of carrion fauna are poorly understood in these areas. Here, we studied the abundance, diversity and richness of the Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae and Trogidae families in the Zapotitlán de las Salinas Valley in Puebla, Mexico. Over a one-year period, monthly samples were collected from five different vegetation systems that included the scrublands, a columnar cactus landscape, and altered vegetation. Samples were collected with the use of NTP-80 traps baited with squid, and data on abundance and richness were obtained and evaluated, with respect to monthly precipitation and sampling site location. We collected a total of 613 insects from 12 genera and 15 species. Across systems, Staphylinidae showed the greatest richness (nine species) and abundance (74.2%), followed by Scarabaeidae (21.9%), Silphidae (2.9%) and Trogidae (1%). Significant differences were observed between sites and months; nevertheless, no relationship was observed between abundance and temperature or precipitation. Across taxonomic groups, abundance and richness were most evident for scrub sites, while a greater abundance during the dry season was obtained. The results of this study indicated that the carrion faunal community composition is closely related to the type of vegetation and did not depend on the rainy season. In spite that lesser carrion fauna was observed in this area when compared to other regions of Mexico, this report constitutes a significant contribution to our understanding of the ecological role of this fauna in arid areas.

Collections were made during one year, between August 2005 and July 2006, in Malinalco, State of Mexico, in three sites of tropical deciduous forest, a pasture and a induced forest of pine-oak, established in a altitudinal gradient ranging from 1,253 m to 2,300 m. The total of 7,680 specimens Scarabaeidae, Silphidae and Trogidae were captured through NTP-80, representing 18 genera and 38 species. Onthophagus and Canthon contained 46% of the richness of Scarabaeidae. The more distant sites were complementary in their species composition. The lowest complementarity occurred between sites with tropical deciduous forest. It revises the material collected through pitffal traps and light traps funnel type, increasing the list of 38 to 50 species in the study area. Between 40% and 50% of the species in Malinalco are distributed in localities of the province of the basin Balsas and localities of the province of the Sierra Madre del Sur, and 30% in the localities of the province of Pacifica coast. For the first time 17 species of Scarabaeidae and three Trogidae were reported for the State of Mexico.