Review of Current Status of Taxonomy of Family Scolytidae in India.

Abstract

The bark beetles are the serious polyphagous pests of forestry and agriculture throughout the temperate tropicil zones. The beetles and larvae of these insects tunnel into the bark, bast and other sapwood of many species of standing green trees as well as freshly felled or logs in storage. The taxonomic study of these well known pests has been handicapped by the paucity of material and scattered literature. The present paper deals with general classlfication, diagnostic characters of chief tribes and sub families of this group. Members of Scolytidea and Platypodidea are distinguished from the rest of Coleoptera in having a medlam gular suture with two pregular sutures which extend from the median posteri of tentorial pit towards the anterior articulations of mandibles. Out of a total number of over 6000 species recorded from all over the world about 400 species of these beetles have been recorded from Indian region. A large number of them is still to be discovered. A list comprising of about 160 species of Indian Scolytidae present in F.R.I. collections is appended for the benefit of readers.