Species composition, abundance and seasonality of dermatitis causing Paederus rove beetles in paddy fields of Malabar region, Kerala, India

Species composition, abundance, and seasonality of Paederus in the paddy fields of the Malabar region, Kerala, India, are analysed. Among the five species of Paederus beetles collected from Malabar, four are known to cause dermatitis. Paederus sondaicus Fauvel 1895 was the dominant species in the paddy fields of the Malabar region. Regional variation in the species composition, abundance, and seasonality of species was observed. P. sondaicus was dominant in Wayanad and Palakkad, P. fuscipes Curtis, 1826 in Malappuram and Kozhikode and P. extraneus Wiedemann, 1823 in Kannur. A modified taxonomic key for identification of Paederus beetles in Kerala is provided.