Diversidade de besouros Carabidae (Coleóptera) no Piauí: um estudo da literatura científica

Abstract

Ground beetles of the family Carabidae constitute one of the most diverse and ecologically relevant groups within the order Coleoptera, acting as natural predators and indicators of environmental quality. Despite their importance, the state of Piauí still presents significant gaps in research involving this taxonomic group. This study conducted a systematic literature survey published between 2005 and 2025, aiming to identify the diversity of Carabidae recorded in the state and to describe the main collection methods employed in the available studies. The search was carried out on Google Scholar using the terms “Coleoptera,” “Carabidae,” and “Piauí,” resulting in three studies that fully met the selection criteria. Analysis of these works revealed the occurrence of 6 subfamilies, 13 tribes, 21 genera, 9 described species, and 38 morphospecies, totaling 47 taxa recorded for Piauí. Harpalinae stood out as the most representative subfamily, followed by Lebiinae and Scaritinae. The dominance of Harpalinae reflects its high adaptive capacity to semi-arid environments and transitional ecosystems. The most frequently used collection methods were pitfall traps, complemented by manual searches and material from scientific collections. The study also identified taxonomic inaccuracies in some publications, such as the erroneous record of Dicaelus sp., a genus not occurring in Brazil. The results highlight the need for new field surveys and taxonomic revisions to expand knowledge of the Carabidae fauna in Piauí, contributing to conservation strategies and environmental management. This survey reinforces the importance of the state as a potential area for entomological studies and for understanding regional biodiversity.