Synopses & Reviews
The amazing armored bodies of beetles allow them to bore into plant tissue, navigate fast-moving streams, burrow through seemingly impenetrable soil, survive blistering heat, and fly. With around 8,000 species living in California, beetles represent the largest and most diverse group of organisms in the state and are an excellent subject for study since they can be found almost everywhereand#151;in backyards, gardens, forests, and deserts. This, the only guide to California beetles available, is the perfect book for anyoneand#151;from outdoor enthusiasts to professional biologistsand#151;who wants to explore the fascinating world of beetles. In addition to providing information on where to find and how to study beetles, the book also gives an engaging and accessible overview of their natural history, biology, distribution, and relation to humans.
* 51 color illustrations and supporting black-and-white photographs and drawings identify the characteristics and habits of 23 of the most conspicuous and interesting beetle families in California
* Chapters describe beetles of special interestand#151;fossil species, endangered species, pests, biological control agents, and more
* Includes an annotated list of terrestrial and aquatic beetle habitats by season, information on starting and caring for a beetle collection, details on keeping beetles alive in the classroom, and a checklist of California beetle families
Synopsis
"This is a very important work that could have only been accomplished by experts who have had a lifelong love of beetles." and#151;David L. Wood, author of
Pests of the Native California Conifers "Any outdoorsy person who pays more than passing attention to insects will want to make room for this book in their day packs."and#151;Michael Caterino, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
About the Author
Arthur V. Evans is Research Associate in the Department of Entomology at the National Museum of Natural History, at the Smithsonian Institution, and in the Department of Recent Invertebrates at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. He is coauthor, with Charles L. Bellamy, of An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles (California, 2000). James N. Hogue is Manager of Biological Collections in the Department of Biology at California State University, Northridge, and Research Associate at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1.A Brief History of Beetle Study in California
2.Form, Diversity, and Classification
3.The Lives of Beetles
4.Distribution of California Beetles
5.Beetles of Special Interest
6.Common and Conspicuous Families of California Beetles
Ground and Tiger Beetles (Carabidae)
Whirligig Beetles (Gyrinidae)
Predaceous Diving Beetles (Dytiscidae)
Water Scavenger Beetles (Hydrophilidae)
Clown Beetles (Histeridae)
Burying and Carrion Beetles (Silphidae)
Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae)
Rain Beetles (Pleocomidae)
Scarab, Dung, May, and June Beetles and Chafers (Scarabaeidae)
Jewel or Metallic Wood-boring Beetles (Buprestidae)
Click Beetles (Elateridae)
Phengodid Beetles (Phengodidae)
Fireflies and Glowworms (Lampyridae)
Soldier Beetles (Cantharidae)
Skin Beetles (Dermestidae)
Bostrichid Beetles (Bostrichidae)
Checkered Beetles (Cleridae)
Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae)
Darkling Beetles (Tenebrionidae)
Blister Beetles (Meloidae)
Longhorned Wood-boring Beetles (Cerambycidae)
Leaf Beetles (Chrysomelidae)
Weevils and Ambrosia, Bark, or Snout Beetles (Curculionidae)
7.Studying Beetles
Checklist of North American Beetle Families
California's Sensitive Beetles
Collections, Societies, and Other Resources
Selected References
Index