Diversity and seasonality of some of the ground dwelling invertebrates in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A study was conducted to understand the diversity, distribution, abundance and seasonality of ground dwelling invertebrate species in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate, from March 2010 to February 2011. Pitfall traps were used for this study in two sites with distinct micro - habitats in the Eastern Region of the Emirate. The site includes a wadi habitat at Jebel Hafit, Al Ain and another one is a gravel plain habitat at Mezyad, Al Ain. Beetles (Coleoptera) of the family Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles) are a conspicuous element of these arid and semi-arid environments. Variable stalker beetle (Adesmia cancellata cothurnata) was the most abundant Tenebrionid among twenty species collected using pitfall traps in the wadi of Jebel Hafit whereas opossum beetle (Mesostena puncticollis) was the most abundant Tenebrionid among twenty in the sandy gravel plain habitat of Um Ghafa, Mezyad.   Key words: Diversity, seasonality, Abu Dhabi Emirate, Jebel Hafit, Mezyad, darkling beetles, pitfall trapping, ground dwelling invertebrates.