Eleven new records and a checklist of diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) of Central Kerala, India

The present study recorded a total of 30 species of diving beetles (Dytiscidae) under 12 genera and 5 subfamilies from the central region of Kerala State, India, of which Copelatus neelumae, Hydaticus discindens, Hydaticus incertus, Sandracottus festivus, Hydrovatus picipennis, Hydroglyphus pendjabensis, Clypeodytes bufo, Microdytes cameroni cf., Laccophilus auropictus cf., Laccophilus elegans and Cybister tripunctatus lateralis are new records to Kerala. The genus Clypeodytes is a first report from Kerala. Hydrovatus picipennis and Hydaticus incertus are new reports from South India. Short diagnoses of the new records are provided. A checklist of 62 species of diving beetles of Kerala is furnished by compiling the 30 species from this study with previous relevant studies. The updated checklist has 11 additions. A brief account of habitat preference and co-existence among Dytiscidae and an identification key for 30 species of diving beetles from the study area is provided.