New records and checklist of dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae) from Santander, Colombia

Dung beetles form a group of insects which are fundamental bioindicators to determine the health of ecosystems and for the maintenance of environmental services. Nonetheless, knowledge of their diversity in regions such as Santander remains limited, which can constrain conservation decision-making. We report an inventory of dung beetles from four life zones in the Department of Santander, Colombia. Sampling was conducted in forested and open areas and species richness and abundance were summarised across life zones and vegetation covers. Species distributions were verified using published literature and occurrence databases to identify previously undocumented records. A total of 3089 individuals belonging to 34 species were recorded. In addition, three species represented new distribution records for the region and the Department of Santander. Regional checklists, such as this one, are essential for reducing existing knowledge gaps on dung beetle diversity in Colombia.