Composition and Diversity of Xylophagous and Predatory Beetles in Vachellia Xanthophloea (Benth.) P.J.H.Hurter (Fabales: Fabaceae) at Kenyatta University and Mitaboni, Kenya
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Date
2019-03
Authors
Kahuthia, R
Abonyo, A
Imbayi, B
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Xylophagous beetles cause damage to Vachellia xanthophloea (Benth.) P.J.H.Hurter by burrowing and
tunneling damaged or deadwood resulting in extensive frass-filled galleries. A study was conducted from
2016 to 2018 to evaluate the composition and diversity of the xylophagous beetles. Fresh infested pieces
of V. xanthophloea were collected from Mitaboni and Kenyatta University (KU), Kenya, and kept in KU
laboratories for adult emergence. We recorded 7,959 and 7,804 beetles in KU and Mitaboni, respectively.
The families included Bostrichidae, Bothrideridae, Buprestidae, Ciidae, Cerambycidae, Cleridae, Curculionidae,
Dermestidae, Histeridae, Laemophloeidae, Lyctidae, Ptinidae, Silvanidae, Staphylinidae, Tenebrionidae,
Trogossitidae, and Zopheridae. Ptinidae was present in Mitaboni only, while Ciidae and
Zopheridae were unique in KU. Bostrichidae was the most abundant family accounting for 28.82% and
57.27% beetles followed by Curculionidae at 15.00% and 20.46% in KU and Mitaboni, respectively. Xylion
adustus (Fahraeus) (Bostrichidae) accounted for 24.73% in KU, while Sinoxylon ruficorne Fahraeus (Bostrichidae)
accounted for 24.83% in Mitaboni. Species richness (S), Shannon diversity index (H), and
evenness (J) were higher at Mitaboni (S¼54; H¼2.45; and J¼0.614) than KU (S¼51; H¼2.33; and J¼0.596).
Further studies should be conducted to document and enrich knowledge on diversity and distribution of
the species associated with decaying V. xanthophloea
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Abundance, Coleoptera, Saproxylic, Species diversity, Species evenness
Citation
Kahuthia, R., Abonyo, A., & Imbayi, B. (2019). Composition and diversity of xylophagous and predatory beetles in Vachellia xanthophloea (Benth.) PJH Hurter (Fabales: Fabaceae) at Kenyatta University and Mitaboni, Kenya. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 12(2), 217-222.