Diversity and Distribution of Aquatic Beetles (Coleoptera) in Purulia District of West Bengal, India

The present study aimed to document the diversity of aquatic beetles in the Purulia district of West Bengal, India. During the survey, carried out between March 2023 to February 2024, a total of 17 aquatic beetle species, belonging to three families viz. Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae, and Noteridae have been collected from 15 aquatic bodies in the district. Amongst them, Dytiscidae is the most diverse family with 6 genera and 8 species followed by the Hydrophilidae with 4 genera, 6 species, and The family Noteridae with 2 genera and 3 species. Within the group of 17 species, the two most commonly found species are Canthydrus leatabilis and Regimbartia attenuate. These species have a higher frequency of occurrence compared to other species. On the other hand, the species Hyphoporus sp. is observed to be the least abundant among the 17 aquatic beetle species. Further research is necessary to gain a more in-depth understanding of aquatic beetle diversity and habitat distribution.