Rita Deb and Pallavi Takawane
Abstract
A preliminary survey of aquatic beetles was conducted in the Daund region of Pune District, Maharashtra, during 2023. The study records six families of aquatic beetles - Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Gyrinidae, Noteridae, Scirtidae, and Hydraenidae - belonging to the order Coleoptera, based on specimens deposited at the Western Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India. A total of 156 specimens were collected from aquatic habitats in the region. The survey highlights the baseline diversity and ecological role of these beetles in freshwater ecosystems. The findings emphasize the need for further entomological exploration and wetland conservation in the Daund region.