A faunal study of saproxylic beetles in forests of Golestan province

Saproxylic beetles as one of the most important forest organisms by feeding and decomposing of decay wood play an important role in forest ecosystem nutrition cycle and forest protection. A study was conducted on the saproxylic beetles in Hyrcanian forests in different regions of these forests in Golestan province during 2013-2017. Sampling was done by pitfall and window traps. Samples were identified as Taphrorychus lenkoranus Reitter, 1913, Scolytus intricatus (Ratzburgi,1837), Hypothenemus eruditus Westwood 1836, Trypodendron lineatum (Olivier, 1795), Xleborinus saxessini (Ratzburgi,1837), Anisandrus dispar (Fabricius,1792), Scolytus rugulosus (Müller, 1818) belonging to subfamily Scolytinae and Cis reitteri Lopes,2002, Cis chinensis Lawrence,1991belonging to Ciidae family. Two species Taphrorychus lenkoranus and Cis chinensis are recorded from Golestan province for the first time. Also, a checklist of saproxylic beetles for Golestan province is provided. The identified species are maintained in museum collection of Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands, Iran.