Diversity of Scarab Fauna (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) – Importance and Implications

Abstract

Scarab fauna include most economically important dung rollers and white grubs, which are diverse and speciose. These belong to the family Scarabaeidae of Coleoptera. The dung beetles or dung rollers being beneficial play an important role in cleaning the debris/faeces and thus improve the soil structure and fertility through nutrient recycling. On the other hand white grubs are destructive and herbivores causing damage to the plants of several commercial agricultural and horticultural crops affecting the yields. Understanding the species diversity of the dung rollers and white grubs aids in conservation of the former group and management of the latter for the benefit of all lives on this earth. The chapter focuses on the classification, diversity and its importance of both the groups.