| Onitis kethai | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Genus: | Onitis |
| Species: | O. kethai |
| Binomial name | |
| Onitis kethai Karimbumkara & Priyadarsanan, 2024 | |
Onitis kethai is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is only known from its type locality Biligiri Rangaswamy temple Tiger Reserve in Karnataka state of India. [1]
The species was named in memory of field assistant, the late Mr Ketha Gowda, who helped the team in sampling beetles and other insects. [1]
The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change. Several groups formerly treated as subfamilies have been elevated to family rank, and some reduced to lower ranks. The subfamilies listed in this article are in accordance with those in Catalog of Life (2023).
The scarab beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species collectively called true dung beetles. Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung. However, some may feed on decomposing matter including carrion, decaying fruits and fungi. Dung beetles can be placed into three structural guilds based on their method of dung processing namely rollers (telecoprids), dwellers (endocoprids) and tunnelers (paracoprids). Dung removal and burial by dung beetles result in ecological benefits such as soil aeration and fertilization; improved nutrient cycling and uptake by plants, increase in Pasture quality, biological control of pest flies and intestinal parasites and secondary seed dispersal. Well-known members include the genera Scarabaeus and Sisyphus, and Phanaeus vindex.
Aphodiinae is a subfamily of the scarab beetle family, Scarabaeidae. Members of this subfamily are known commonly as the small dung beetles and many, but not all, are dung beetles. These beetles are found worldwide.
Scarabaeus sacer, common name sacred scarab, is the type species of the genus Scarabaeus and the family Scarabaeidae. This dung beetle is native of southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia, and it was venerated in ancient Egypt.
Melolonthinae is a subfamily of the scarab beetles. It is a very diverse group; distributed over most of the world, it contains over 11,000 species in over 750 genera. Some authors include the scarab subfamilies Euchirinae and Pachypodinae as tribes in the Melolonthinae.
Onitis is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea and typical of the tribe Onitini.
Onthophagus is a genus of dung beetles in the Onthophagini tribe of the wider scarab beetle family, Scarabaeidae. It is the most species-rich and widespread genus in the subfamily Scarabaeinae, with a global distribution.
Xylotrupes gideon, the brown rhinoceros beetle, is a species of large scarab beetle belonging to the subfamily Dynastinae.
Rutelinae or shining leaf chafers is a subfamily of the scarab beetles. It is a very diverse group; distributed over most of the world, it contains some 200 genera with over 4,000 described species in 7 tribes. Several taxa have yet to be described. A few recent classifications include the tribe Hopliini, but this is not generally accepted.
Onitis humerosus is a species of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.
Onitis alexis, the bronze dung beetle, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is endemic to Africa, Syria, Spain, Tunisia and Greece. It was introduced into Australia and is established in the warmer regions of northern Australia. The species is found in Oceania.
Aganocrossus urostigma, is a species of dung beetle found with a widespread distribution from Southern Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, China; Taiwan, Korean Peninsula, Japan, towards Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia: Malacca and Borneo; Indonesia, Philippines, and Russia.
Delopleurus parvus, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Gymnopleurus sericeifrons is a species of dung beetle found in Afro-tropical countries such as Mozambique, Kenya, India and Sri Lanka.
Onitis crenatus, is a species of dung beetle found in Afro-Asian countries.
Onitis philemon is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka, China and Taiwan.
Onitis singhalensis, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
Onitis subopacus is a species of dung beetle found in Austro-Oriental, Oriental, South and West Palearctic regions.
Onitis visthara is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is only known from its type locality in the outskirts of Bengaluru in Karnataka state of India.
Onitis bhomorensis, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is only known from its type locality near Tezpur in Assam state of India.
Media related to Onitis kethai at Wikimedia Commons