Exploration of the Coleoptera fauna in the Cholistan desert, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The Cholistan desert hosts a diverse range of flora and fauna, including a rich variety of insects. However, studies focusing on Coleoptera (Beetles) in this region remain limited. To assess their biodiversity, the present study employed random sampling using hand nets, pitfall traps, and hand picking. Coleopterans are ecologically vital as ecosystem engineers and environmental indicators, but global research, especially in arid regions, lacks taxonomic expertise and resources. Although a comprehensive checklist of beetle species is urgently needed for the Cholistan region of Punjab, such efforts are currently constrained by limited knowledge of beetle natural history and distribution. Understanding their habitat preferences is key to evaluating environmental responses and guiding conservation. The present study, therefore, aimed to support future research on beetles in the Cholistan desert by providing baseline data. A total of 1,449 specimens were collected and identified, representing 8 species, 8 genera, and 4 families. The documented species include Blaps gigas (Linnaeus, 1767), Pimelia canariensis (Fabricius, 1781), Scarabaeus gangeticus (Castelnau, 1840), Phyllophaga crinita (Burmeister, 1855), Julodis euphratica (Laporte and Gory, 1835), Anthia sexguttata (Fabricius, 1775), Calosoma auropunctatum (Herbst, 1784), and Trachyderma hispida (Forskål, 1775). Notably, Phyllophaga crinita (Burmeister, 1855) J. aequinoctialis, and T. lima are likely new records for both the Cholistan desert and Pakistan. The study not only enhances the understanding of Coleoptera biodiversity in the Cholistan desert but also provides foundational data for future ecological research and conservation efforts in arid regions of Pakistan.