Biogeography of the Australian Dynastinae, Rutelinae, Scarabaeinae, Melolonthini, Scitalini and Geotrupidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)

Abstract

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A Review of Perennial Ryegrass Endophytes and Their Potential Use in the Management of African Black Beetle in Perennial Grazing Systems in Australia

“…Scarabaeidae is one of the largest families of Coleoptera in Australia, comprising seven subfamilies and 3000 species (Allsopp, 1995). A number of these species are pasture beetles that share a similar lifestyle and behavior.…”

“…For quite some time, all scarab larvae were commonly referred as “white grubs” because of their white/creamy color and curled shape during the larval stage (Cumpston, 1940). Members of the subfamilies Dynastinae, Rutelinae, and Melolonthinae are generally soil-dwelling, phytophagous, or phytosaprophagous, and in some cases the adults do not feed (Allsopp, 1995). However, there are still a number of soil-inhabiting pasture beetles whose larval forms have not yet been described (Berg et al, 2014).…”

Phylogeography of the scarab beetle Antitrogus parvulus Britton (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in south‐eastern Queensland, Australia

“…At a higher level, Allsopp's (1995) work on the biogeography of the Australian Scarabaeoidea suggests that the high endemism of the northern Queensland species compared with the more southerly counterparts could be due to the high proportion of summer rainfall of far north Queensland. Faunal breaks, when they do occur, often correspond with dry belts, topography and the timing of rainfall (winter or summer) serving as barriers between more mesic environments.…”

How localized are the distributions of Australian scarabs (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea)?

“…Much of the Australian dynastine fauna appears to have its origin in the pre‐Jurrasic to Jurrasic periods and is concentrated in the arid Eyrean subregion (Carne, 1957; Howden, 1981; Allsopp, 1995). The much younger and much smaller Malayan element is concentrated in the north and north‐east (Torresian subregion) and derives from ancestors arriving in the Cenozoic, presumably after the Miocene.…”

“…The extreme tendency towards localized species within the Scarabaeini reflect the group's long residency in Australia and a high proportion of flightless species, reflecting limitation of habitat area coupled with environmental stability (Matthews, 1974; Howden, 1981). Concentration of species along the periphery of the continent (Matthews, 1974; Allsopp, 1995) probably reflects early expansion and later extinction in unfavourable habitats. Many of the Onthophagini, in contrast, seem to be good dispersers and their ancestors apparently arrived much more recently from the north in less than 34 separate incursions (Matthews, 1972; Howden, 1981).…”