Beetles (Insecta,Coleoptera) in the arctic fauna: Communication 1. Faunal composition

Coleoptera, the largest insect order, appears to be subordinate to Diptera in the extent of colonization of the Arctic environment. Beetles comprise about 13% of the insect fauna of the tundra zone, yet in the high latitudes several of their families retain considerable levels of species diversity and play significant cenotic roles. The present communication reviews the circumpolar beetle fauna of the Arctic. Based on original data, literature sources and museum collections, with the use of extrapolations and analogies, the taxonomic and ecological diversity patterns of the suborders, series and families of Coleoptera are distinguished, the latitude-zonal distribution and the northernmost range limits of the species are analyzed, and their adaptations and cenotic relations are characterized.