Distributional Patterns of Carabid Beetles under Humid Subtropical Climate in Croplands of Sialkot

Somia Liaqat, Mubashar Hussain*, Kiran Aftab, Maryam Khalid and Suleman Hussain Shah

Department of Zoology, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Pakistan with its diverse climatic and topographical features, is expected to harbor a great diversity of insect species; however, insect fauna of global significance lacks taxonomic and ecological exploration in Pakistan. We explored species diversity and community composition of carabid beetles from croplands. Sampling was conducted fortnightly from August 2020 to July 2021 from district Sialkot i.e., Sialkot, Sambrial, and Pasrur. Specimens were collected by handpicking during the day while pitfall traps were used for nocturnal sampling. Diversity indices and similarities percentage (SIMPER) were calculated for all study sites. We reported 15 species belonging to four subfamilies, six tribes, and eight genera. Calosoma inquisitor (15.18%), Pheropsophus verticalis (12.37%), and Pheropsophus darwini (11.54%) were the most abundant species in district Sialkot. The values of diversity indices calculated for different sites show high species diversity and evenness in Sambrial (D = 0.09, e˄H/S = 0.94) followed by Pasrur (D = 0.08, e˄H/S = 0.93) and Sialkot (D = 0.11, e˄H/S = 0.84). Species richness was highest in Pasrur (H = 2.49) followed by Sambrial (H = 2.42) and Sialkot (H = 2.22). Galerita bicolor and Galerita lecontei veracrucis were reported as new to Pakistan. The study emphasized that ground beetles are one of the key components of agroecosystems and need to be explored extensively concerning accelerated habitat modification and habitat types.

Article Information

Received 13 June 2023

Revised 05 September 2023

Accepted 18 September 2023

Available online 28 November 2023

(early access)

Published 02 April 2025

Authors’ Contribution

MH developed the original hypothesis, designed the experiment, and finalized the manuscript. SL collected the data for this study, conducted the statistical analysis and prepared the draft. MK helped in interpreting the results. KA and SHS proofread the manuscript.

Key words

Ground beetles, Carabidae, Calosoma, Croplands, Carabids

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20230613020616

* Corresponding author: dr.mubashar@uog.edu.pk

0030-9923/2025/0002-0839 $ 9.00/00

Copyright 2025 by the authors. Licensee Zoological Society of Pakistan.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Introduction

One of the key global issues is biodiversity loss in response to climate change, land-use practices, pollution, overexploitation, and agricultural intensification resulting in habitat modification, fragmentation, microclimatic variation, and habitat loss (Cardoso et al., 2020; Rounsevell et al., 2018; van der Meer et al., 2020). Climate change and extensive agriculture are key drivers of the global decrease in insect biodiversity (Raven and Wagner, 2021). The rate of species extinction is 1000 times faster compared to the historical trends, mainly due to climate change and associated anethropogenic activities (JM et al., 2015). To mitigate biodiversity decline, the conservation, and re-establishment of semi-natural habitats and less intensively managed habitats in agricultural landscapes have been encouraged (Wang et al., 2021). Several studies have identified agricultural practices and extension as principal contributing factors to species extinction (Wepprich et al., 2019; Forister et al., 2016; Raven and Wagner, 2021).

Several studies have been conducted to explore major insect fauna from Pakistan (Hussain and Umar, 2021; Hussain et al., 2023; Ramzan et al., 2021; Asghar et al., 2022; Maryam et al., 2020; Ane and Hussain, 2016). Major insect taxa assessed from different habitats and climatic zones during last two decades include butterflies (Roberts, 2001; Khan et al., 2014, 2015, 2021; Abbas et al., 2002; Bibi et al., 2022; Yu-Feng et al., 2020; Mangi et al., 2023), dung beetles (Siddiqui et al., 2014; Noureen et al., 2015b; Ghazanfar et al., 2017; Nasir et al., 2016; Hussain et al., 2020, 2022a; Abbas et al., 2015; Ali et al., 2015; Noureen et al., 2015a, 2021), coccinellid beetles (Hussain et al., 2018, 2022b; Ahmed et al., 2017), grasshoppers (Hussain et al., 2017; Ali and Panhwar, 2017), bees and wasps (Bashir et al., 2019; Hussain et al., 2010, 2012; Bashir et al., 2023), and ground beetles (Rafi et al., 2017; Rahim et al., 2013b; Azadbakhsh and Rafi, 2017; Bibi and Rehman, 2020; Hussain et al., 2022c). Coleoptera play an important role in agroecosystems due to their high diversity, abundance, wide distribution, and role as biocontrol agents of pests (Manzoor et al., 2020; Perveen, 2015; Bashir et al., 2023).

Ground beetles (Carabidae) are abundant and species-rich in cultivable areas across the globe with almost 40,000 species (Lövei and Sunderland, 1996). Carabid beetles exhibit various morphological forms and diverse ecological roles i.e., predation, herbivory, and scavenging (Lövei and Sunderland, 1996). Carabid species are sensitive to anthropogenic changes in soil habitats. Thus, they act as bioindicators and are used to characterize habitat disturbance by responding to changes in vegetation height, and supplementary habitats (corridors) for generalist and mesophilous species (Lövei and Sunderland, 1996; Rainio and Niemelä, 2003; Rebrina et al., 2022). Moreover, they are important pest-control agents due to their predatory polyphagous diet (Symondson et al., 2002; Vichitbandha and Wise, 2002). Carabid communities may serve as an important bio-indicators as well biocontrol agents in agricultural landscapes (Avgın and Luff, 2010; Skłodowski, 2017; Schwerk et al., 2020; Soomro et al., 2021).

The checklist of ground beetles (Carabidae) presented earlier included 238 species from Pakistan (Kazi et al., 2016). Studies on carabid beetles in Pakistan reported five species from Haripur, KPK, Pakistan (Bibi and Rehman, 2020), 38 species from National Insect Museum of Pakistan (Azadbakhsh and Rafi, 2017) 11 species from Mekran division, Baluchistan (Khatri et al., 2016), 12 species from Mansehra Division, KPK (Mishkatullah, 2018), five species from Sindh Province (Soomro et al., 2021), and six species of ground beetles from Upper Sindh Plains.

Keeping in view the global importance of carabid beetles, we explored the diversity of carabid beetles from Sialkot. The objective of the study is to document the carabid beetles from farmland and seminatural habitats from Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan. The study would help to assess diversity and the pattern of ground beetles’ distribution in croplands of Sialkot.

Materials and Methods

Study area

Sialkot (32.3811° N, 74.4995° E) is one of the main districts of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northeast part of the province and is surrounded by Jammu Kashmir on the north, Narowal on the south, Gujranwala on the west, and Gujrat on the northwest side (Noreen et al., 2020). It covers an area of 1200 square miles and is 256m above sea level. Besides the Chenab River on the north side of Sialkot, three seasonal streams also flow through the city i.e., Palkhu, Aik, and Beer. The weather of Sialkot is extremely cold during winters while hot and humid during summer. Sialkot is the sub-humid, warm, and sub-tropical monsoon region of Pakistan (Khan, 2019). Winter temperature might fall to −2 °C and the average rainfall of district Sialkot is almost 1000 mm the highest rainfall is observed from July to September (District Sialkot, 2023).

It has great agricultural potential and plays an important role in the agronomic development of Pakistan (Malik et al., 2010). Sialkot district is very fertile land rich with flora. There is a variety of natural vegetation growing in different seasons throughout the year. Major plant varieties of this area include Catharanthus roseus (Sada bahar), and Conyza canadensis (Horseweed), Cannabis sativa (Bhang), Ipomea carnea (Bush morning glory), Cucumis melo (Wild watermelon), Ricinus communis (Castor oil), Cassia fistula (Golden shower), Solanum nigrum (Nightshade), Datura inoxia (Thorn apple), Withania somnifera (Winter cherry) and Tribulus terrestris (Puncture vine) (Arshad et al., 2011).

 

Sampling procedure

Sampling was carried out fortnightly from randomly selected 15 sites within three tehsils i.e., Pasrur, Sambrial and Sialkot (Fig. 1). Sites were selected based on the vegetation type i.e., croplands and semi-natural habitats. Specimens were collected by handpicking from agricultural fields and seminatural habitats. Pitfall traps were also placed for nocturnal sampling in both type of habitats (Ullah et al., 2017). We used disposable plastic cups to prepare the traps with dimensions: diameter (52mm), top diameter (81mm), and height (110 mm). One-third bottom of the trap was filled with vinegar to kill and preserve the specimen. Traps were placed in a 1km transects. Transects were separated by ~100 m. A total of nine traps were placed at each sampling site which were separated by ~150m. The open mouthed traps were surveyed after 24 h and the captured specimens were collected and transferred in labelled plastic containers. For the the reuse of already installed traps, the killing agent was drained and the traps were refilled (Mishkatullah, 2018).

Killing, preservation, and identification

The specimens were identified by by using a microscope (CZM6), labelled and preserved in 70% ethanol (Schauff, 2001; King and Porter, 2004; Post et al., 1993). For identification of the specimens, taxonomic keys, field guides and literature were consulted (Abdullah and Azmir, 2021; Choate, 1999, 2001; Ghannem et al., 2016; Ribera et al., 1999).

Statistical analysis

The simpson and shannon-weiner diversity indices were applied using PAST3 statistical software to calculate species abundance, richness, and evenness across the study area. The similarities percentage (SIMPER) notes the species contributing to dissimilarity among different sites (Simpson, 1949; Shannon, 1949; Clarke and Gorley, 2015; Clarke, 1993; Clarke and Warwick, 1994). Seasonal relative abundance was calculated by arranging data seasonally, i.e. summer (April–October) and winter (November–March) (Hussain et al., 2022a).

Results

Overall diversity and abundance

The results indicated that a total of 4558 ground beetle specimens were collected from Sialkot, Pasrur and Sambrial tehsils of district Sialkot from August 2020 to July 2021. The specimens belonged to four subfamilies, six tribes, eight genera, and fifteen species. The maximum number of species was recorded from genus Pheropsophus (7 species) followed by genus Galerita (2 species, Table I).

Overall relative abundance of species at district Sialkot indicated that Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus (15.18%) was the most abundant species followed by Pheropsophus hilaris hilaris (12.37%), and Pheropsophus lissoderus (11.54%) (Fig. 2). We also indentified that Galerita bicolor and Galerita lecontei veracrucis were new to Pakistan and were being reported for the first time from this region.

 

Table I. Relative abundance (%) of carabid beeles (family Carabidae) in different tehsils of district Sialkot.

Subfamily	Tribe	Genus	Species	Guild	Relative abundance (%)
					Pasrur	Sialkot	Sambrial
Carabinae	Carabini	Calosoma	Calosoma inquisitor	Predator	5.81	--	5.23
Harpalinae	Chlaeniini	Chlaenius	Chlaenius pictus	Predator	8.06	--	7.52
	Lebiini	Cymindis	Cymindis platicollis	Predator	4.15	0.58	--
	Harpalini	Dioryche	Dioryche subrecta	Predator	3.08	3.19	--
	Galeritini	Galerita	Galerita bicolor	Predator	6.75	9.57	10.07
			G. lecontei veracrucis	Predator	5.69	6.96	5.91
	Pterostichini	Poecilus	Poecilus versicolor	Predator	--	--	4.97
Brachininae	Brachinini	Pheropsophus	Pheropsophus africanus	Predator	9.95	11.01	7.25
			P. catoirei	Predator	8.77	10.43	8.72
			P. darwini	Predator	--	4.35	6.58
			P. hilaris hilaris	Predator	13.15	14.49	9.53
			P. hilaris sobrinus	Predator	11.97	17.83	16.38
			P. lissoderus	Predator	9.83	13.77	11.41
			P. verticalis	Predator	4.98	--	6.44
Scaritinae	Scaritini	Scarites	Scarites subterraneus	Predator	7.82	7.83	--

 

Table II. Diversity indices calculated for different sites from August 2020 to July 2021.

	Sialkot	Sambrial	Pasrur	Overall
Taxa_S	11	12	13	15
Individuals	1380	1490	1688	4558
Dominance_D	0.1178	0.09474	0.0878	0.09137
Simpson_1-D	0.8822	0.9053	0.9122	0.9086
Shannon_H	2.224	2.423	2.493	2.521
Evenness_e^H/S	0.8408	0.94	0.9306	0.8295
Brillouin	2.202	2.399	2.47	2.51
Menhinick	0.2961	0.3109	0.3164	0.2222
Margalef	1.383	1.506	1.615	1.662
Equitability_J	0.928	0.975	0.972	0.931
Fisher_alpha	1.632	1.783	1.917	1.931
Berger-Parker	0.1783	0.1638	0.1315	0.1518

 

Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus (17.83%) showed the highest relative abundance at tehsil Sialkot, followed by Pheropsophus hilaris hilaris (14.49%) and Pheropsophus lissoderus (13.77%). The lowest relative abundance was recorded for Cymindis platicollis (0.58%). At tehsil Sambrial, the highest relative abundance was recorded for Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus (16.38%) followed by Pheropsophus lissoderus (11.41%) and Galerita bicolor (10.07%). Poecilus versicolor (4.97%) showed the lowest relative abundance from tehsil Sambrial. At tehsil Pasrur, Pheropsophus hilaris hilaris (13.15%) showed the highest relative abundance followed by Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus (11.97%) and Pheropsophus africanus (9.95%). The lowest relative abundance was recorded for Cymindis platicollis (4.15%) and Dioryche subrecta (3.08%) (Table I).

Diversity indices

The values of species dominanace (1-D) showed variations in the the diversity of species at a given site (value closer to 0 indicates less diversity while 1 indicates high diversity (Table II). The Simpson’s index (1-D) shows that species are more diverse in Pasrur (1-D = 0.91) followed by Sambrial (1-D = 0.90) and Sialkot (1-D = 0.88). Similarly, Shannon index (H) indicate high species richness in Pasrur (H = 2.49) followed by Sambrial (H = 2.42) and Sialkot (H = 2.2). The evenness value (e˄H/S) indicated closer to 1 showed high evenness while a 0 value shows low evenness i.e., Sambrial (e˄H/S = 0.94) followed by Pasrur (e˄H/S = 0.93) and Sialkot (e˄H/S = 0.84). The equitability value (J) indicated that the species are almost equally distributed in Sambrial (J = 0.975) and Pasrur (J = 0.972) whereas in Sialkot (J = 0.927), species are less equally distributed as compared to Sambrial and Pasrur (Table II). Margalef index explains the impact of sample size on the soecies richness i.e., the higher the index the greater the richness. Pasrur (1.615) exhibited higher richness as compared to sambrial (1.506) and Sialkot (1.383).

 

Table III. Relative abundance (%) of carabid beetles from study sites during summer and winter. Each value (%) calculated from total abundance at each site during seasons.

Species	Sialkot		Sambrial		Pasrur
	Winter	Summer	Winter	Summer	Winter	Summer
Pheropsophus africanus	21.62	17.15	14.41	16.72	13.85	12.45
Galerita lecontei veracrucis	18.92	9.29	4.50	9.46	10.77	9.37
Cymindis platicollis	17.57	13.94	8.11	9.78	16.15	13.57
Dioryche subrecta	14.86	10.42	4.50	7.73	13.85	10.21
Pheropsophus lissoderus	14.86	13.46	8.11	11.99	9.23	10.49
Galerita bicolor	5.41	--	--	--	3.08	4.34
Pheropsophus verticalis	2.70	8.01	1.80	6.62	3.08	6.57
Pheropsophus catoirei	2.70	8.33	--	--	4.62	8.67
Poecilus versicolor	1.35	4.01	--	--	--	3.64
Calosoma inquisitor	--	--	33.33	0.32	--	0.42
Chlaenius pictus	--	--	9.01	7.26	12.31	7.97
Pheropsophus darwini	--	10.58	5.41	10.88	6.92	7.55
Scarites subterraneus	--	4.81	0.90	7.57	--	--
Pheropsophus hilaris hilaris	--	--	5.41	6.62	6.15	4.76
Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus	--	--	4.50	5.05	--	--

 

Table IV. SIMPER results including species contributing to dissimilarities among sites.

Species	Overall dissimilarity	Mean dissimilarity	Contribution %	Cumulative %	Mean abundance (No.)
					Sialkot	Sambrial
Chlaenius pictus	25.16 %	4.46	18.33	18.33	--	10.60
Scarites subterraneus		4.34	18.00	36.33	10.4	--
Pheropsophus verticalis		4.18	16.97	53.3	--	09.80
Poecilus versicolor		3.59	14.90	68.2	--	08.60
Dioryche subrecta		2.77	11.49	79.69	6.63	--
Cymindis platicollis		1.18	04.89	84.59	2.83	--
Pheropsophus hilaris hilaris		0.93	03.87	88.44	14.1	11.90
Pheropsophus darwini		0.90	03.73	92.17	7.75	09.90
Pheropsophus africanus		0.81	03.36	95.53	12.3	10.40
Galerita bicolor		0.32	01.32	96.84	11.5	12.20
Pheropsophus lissoderus		0.32	01.30	98.13	13.8	13.00
Pheropsophus catoirei		0.25	01.04	99.17	12.0	11.40
Pheropsophus lecontei veracrucis		0.18	0.72	99.89	9.80	09.38
Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus		0.03	0.11	100	15.70	15.60
Chlaenius pictus	16.06 %	04.62	28.78	28.78	--	11.7
Pheropsophus verticalis		03.63	22.62	51.39	--	9.16
Pheropsophus darwini		03.07	19.11	70.51	7.75	--
Cymindis platicollis		02.19	13.67	84.17	2.83	8.37
Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus		0.583	03.63	87.80	15.7	14.2
Scarites subterraneus		0.434	02.71	90.51	10.4	11.5
Pheropsophus lissoderus		0.356	02.22	92.73	13.8	12.9
Galerita bicolor		0.321	02.01	94.73	11.5	10.7
Pheropsophus hilaris hilaris		0.301	01.87	96.6	14.1	14.9
Pheropsophus africanus		0.251	1.56	98.16	12.3	13.0
Dioryche subrecta		0.230	1.43	99.59	6.63	7.21
Pheropsophus catoirei		0.06579	0.4096	100	12	12.2
Poecilus versicolor		0	0	100	0	0
Galerita lecontei veracrucis		0	0	100	9.8	9.8
					Sambrial	Pasrur
Scarites subterraneus	22.12 %	4.447	20.10	20.10	--	11.5
Pheropsophus darwini		3.831	17.32	37.43	9.90	--
Poecilus versicolor		3.329	15.05	52.48	8.60	--
Cymindis platicollis		3.238	14.64	67.12	--	8.37
Dioryche subrecta		2.791	12.62	79.74	--	7.21
Pheropsophus hilaris hilaris		1.155	5.222	84.96	11.9	14.9
Pheropsophus africanus		0.9943	4.496	89.46	10.4	13.0
Galerita bicolor		0.6077	2.747	92.21	12.2	10.7
Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus		0.5446	2.462	94.67	15.6	14.2
Chlaenius pictus		0.4176	1.888	96.56	10.6	11.7
Pheropsophus catoirei		0.2957	1.337	97.89	11.4	12.2
Pheropsophus verticalis		0.245	1.108	99.00	09.8	9.16
Galerita lecontei veracrucis		0.1614	0.7297	99.73	9.38	9.80
Pheropsophus lissoderus		0.0596	0.2695	100	13.0	12.9

 

Species contributing to dissimilarity among different sites

SIMPER results for the species contributing to dissimilarity among different sites in district Sialkot. Overall dissimilarity among Sialkot and Sambrial is 25.16%. Top species contributing to dissimilarity include Chlaenius pictus (18.33%), Scarites subterraneus (18%), and Pheropsophus verticalis (16.97%) whereas Pheropsophus hilaris sobrinus (0.11%) has the least contribution to dissimilarity among the species. Sialkot and Pasrur showed 16.06% dissimilarity in species distribution. Chlaenius pictus (28.78%) and Pheropsophus verticalis (22.62%) have the highest contribution to dissimilarity whereas, Poecilus versicolor and Galerita lecontei veracrucis have no contribution to dissimilarity (Table IV).

Similarly, Sambrial and Pasrur have 22.12% overall dissimilarity among the species. The top species contributing to dissimilarity include Scarites subterraneus (20.1%) and Pheropsophus darwini (17.32%) whereas, Galerita lecontei veracrucis (0.72%) and Pheropsophus lissoderus (0.26%) have the least contribution to dissimilarity among the species at Sambrial and Pasrur.

Rank abundance curve

Rank abundance curve reflects evenness in the slope of the line. Whereas a steep gradient represents low evenness, while a shallow gradient is indicative of higher species evenness. The rank abundance graph of species in three study sites showed a shallow gradient of Pasrur and Sambrial which indicated evenness in the distribution of species whereas the steep curve of Sialkot indicates low evenness in species abundance (Fig. 3). Pasrur and Sambrial were equally dominant sites as compared tehsil Sialkot. Dominant species included Pheropsophus africanus, Galerita lecontei veracrucis, Cymindis platicollis, Dioryche subrecta and Pheropsophus lissoderus (Table III).

 

Discussion

Ground beetles (family Carabidae) belong to a large family of predatory ground-dwelling beetles. The studies on carabid beetles report their dependence on biotic and abiotic features of their local habitats (Pizzolotto et al., 2018; Heino et al., 2019). Carabid community rely on vegetation characteristics mainly through local effects (Schaffers et al., 2008; Worthen and Merriman, 2013). Microclimatic conditions like food sources, temperature, moisture and sunlight influence carabid assemblages (Luff, 1980; Ernsting and Isaaks, 2000). In our study, we recorded 15 species of carabid beetles that belonged to the carnivorous guild from agricultural landscapes. Our study sites represent similarities in microclimatic conditions (temperature, light, and biotic communities), however local differences in vegetation and other features in three tehsils (Sialkot, Pasrur and Sambrial) were observed which have influenced species richness and abundance.

Ground beetle assemblages have been reported amongst important insect communities from the agricultural landscapes across the globe (Szyszko-Podgórska et al., 2021; Rainio and Niemelä, 2003). Interestingly, most species of carabids were observed with reasonably higher magnitudes from all three study sites except Scarites subterraneus (from Sambrial), Pheropsophus darwini (from Pasrur), Cymindis platicollis (from Sambrial) and Dioryche subrecta (from Sambrial). Poecilus versicolor was not recorded from Sialkot and Pasrur. Calosoma inquisitor, Chlaenius pictus, Pheropsophus verticalis and Poecilus versicolor (also from Pasrur) were not recorded from Sialkot. Additionally, these results of ground beetle assemblages recorded from district Sialkot indicated slight variations in the species abundance, richness, and distribution across the sites i.e., Sialkot, Sambrial, and Pasrur.

Vegetation types and higher altitude and lower temperature ranges influence species diversity. Such results of lower diversity (only five species: Carabus caschmirensis, Chlaenius quadricolar, Pheropsophus sobrinus, Chlaenius laticollis and Chlaenius hamifer) were reported earlier from District Poonch, Azad Kashmir (Rahim et al., 2013a). Surprisingly lower diversity of species and abundance of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Upper Sindh Plains. Only six species were reported: Calosoma auropunctuatumm, Calsoma sycophantum, Harpalus erythropus, Harpalus suensoni, Mecyclothorax cordicolis and Nesamblyops oreobius. Fourteen species of Brachinini tribe have been reported from northern Pakistan (Ullah et al., 2017). Variations in the topography, altitudes, climatic conditions, and vegetation type determine carabid community composition.

SIMPER results highlighted that Sialkot-Sambrial comparison indicated 25.16 % contribution in the dissimilarity of species abundance. In Sialkot-Pasrur, 16.06% average dissimilarity was observed. Main species contributing Chlaenius pictus (18.33 % in Sialkot-Sambrial, 28.78% in Sialkot-Pasrur) and Scarites subterraneus (20.10 % in Sambrial-Pasrur). The distribution patterns of Chlaenius pictus in agricultural landscapes indicated variations in the abundance in response to vegetation, temperature, and microenvironment (Satpathi, 2021; Knapp et al., 2019).

Twelve species were reported from coastal areas of Sindh with most abundant species include Calosoma aurapunctuatum, Calosoma scyophantum and Anthia sexuamatta. The species belonging to the genus Pheropsophus were found to be the most abundant in Sialkot. Species were found to be evenly distributed in Sambrial and Pasrur (less anthropogenic activities) as compared to Sialkot (more anthropogenic activities). Similar results have been reported for changes in the composition and abundance of carabid species due to the disturbance caused by anthropogenic activities (Rainio and Niemelä, 2003). Habitat fragmentation, vegetation, and soil water content are the major factors affecting the distribution and abundance of carabid beetles (Wei et al., 2020; Kazi et al., 2016). The values of diversity indices show high species diversity and evenness in Sambrial followed by Pasrur and Sialkot. Species richness was highest in Pasrur followed by Sambrial and Sialkot. The seasonal diversity of carabid beetles has also been reported similar to our findings from Sindh, Pakistan (Sahito et al., 2020).

Conclusion

Carabid beetle assemblages indicated dominance of predatory species in croplands of Sialkot. Among 15 species recorded, Galerita bicolor and Galerita lecontei veracrucis were reported as new to Pakistan. Our study described Pheropsophus as the most abundant genus with seven species out of total fifteen species belong to this genus. Variations in the number of species from three tehsils indicated local differences in the microclimatic conditions in the sites.

Acknowledgement

Authors are grateful to the Head of Laboratory of Systematics and Pest Management, Department of Zoology-UOG, for providing all the resources and feasible environment for conducting the research work.

Funding

The study received no external funding.

IRB approval

The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Gujrat, Gujrat.

Ethical statement

All efforts were made to minimize pain and discomfort to the specimens during research.

Statement of conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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