Diversity of coleopteran insects in the coastal and noncoastal environment of Midnapore (East), West Bengal, India

Abstract

Coleoptera is the largest order in the class Insecta, and contains species that can be found on land, air, and water to a considerable extent. The members of this order occur almost throughout the physiographic zones of India. Coleopteran insects of coastal areas Midnapore (East) district were sampled from November 2008 to October 2011. Altogether 28 Coleopteran insect species belonging to 26 genera and 9 families have been documented from eight different study sites having contrasting ecological characters in the coastal areas of Midnapore (East) district of West Bengal, India. The present study has attempted to record the diversity and distribution of Coleopteran insects. Some site specific species have been described in our study.