A Study on Scarabaeoidea (Insecta:Coleoptera) Fauna of Yavşan Plateau Nature Park (Kahramanmaraş-Türkiye)

Abstract

It is of great significance to reveal the insect fauna of Kahramanmaraş, which has different ecosystems and climatic conditions, in terms of biological diversity. This study investigated the Scarabaeoidea fauna of Yavşan Plateau which is located in Kahramanmaraş and which was declared as a nature park in 2009. The present study examined adult Scarabaeoidea specimens collected between March and October 2016. The specimens were obtained throughpitfall the trap method and field search method (using tools such as forceps, etc.).The findings demonstrated that 28 species and 5 subspecies belonging to 25 genera from the Scarabaeoidea superfamily were identified in the study area. 31 of them belong to the family Scarabaeidae, while two species are included in the family Hybosoridae amongst them. Elaphocera dilatata (Erichson, 1840) was recorded for the first time from Türkiye. 14 of the recorded species and subspecies were reported for the first time for fauna of Kahramanmaraş province. The study covers the distribution of the identified species in Türkiye and throughout the world as well as their chorotype information, locality and history. This study is expected to shed light onto the ever-decreasing biodiversity due to various reasons such as global climate change, habitat degradation etc.