New distribution records of Sericinae chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Jammu and Kashmir, India

This paper presents new distribution records of Sericinae chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Based on the 102 specimens collected during the recent survey, a total of 6 species were identified from the region which were recorded for the first time from various districts of Jammu and Kashmir: Maladera affinis (Blanchard, 1850), Maladera cardoni (Brenske, 1896), Maladera insanabilis (Brenske, 1894), Maladera tyrannica (Brenske, 1894), Maladera schenklingi (Moser, 1918), and Serica khajiaris Mittal, 1988. All specimens collected were thoroughly examined and material of these six species, including high-resolution photographs of the habitus and genitalia, is provided alongside updated distributional records. A map illustrating the newly recorded localities of these species is also included in the study.