A report of an aquatic beetle Eretes griseus (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Dytiscinae: Eretini) from the Western Ghats and other parts of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

This note is the first authentic record of the dytiscid species Eretes griseus (Fabricius, 1781) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. It was found only from three localities (essentially isolated temporary pools) out of 50+ localities sampled so far in the year 2013-2014. We provide light microscopic images of the habitus, SEM images of important diagnostic characteristics and also clarify the status and distribution of this species in India.

Keywords

• Dytiscidae, Dytiscinae, Eretes, male genitalia, elytral lateral sulcus, temporary pools, scanning electron microscopy.