Soil Scarab Beetles at Santa Marta, Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Results of sampling soil beetle communities at three tropical localities with distinct land uses in lower inner slopes of eastern mountains at Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico are presented and commented on as a contribution to the biotic inventory of the region. From 281 soil samples collected in fall 2003, we obtained 273 specimens including adults and larvae of 26 species in five families of Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea. The families with the most species richness were Melolonthidae (11) and Scarabaeidae (12), and the family with most abundance was Melolonthidae (182). Pastures at San Fernando had the most abundance and richness in all groups, and fewest Melolonthidae were in soil of a rainforest. Comments on the value of species of Scarabaeoidea as biological indicators are included. By their abundance and biomass, Macrodactylus fulvescens Bates and Ataenius apicalis Hinton were the most important rhizophagous and saprovorous beetles, respectively, in the study area.