Beetles: The Natural History and Diversity of Coleoptera

Description:

An accessible but comprehensive overview of beetles, illustrated with 4500 photographs. From the author of the acclaimed 'Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera' and 'Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity'. The book is scientifically rigorous, but also wholly suitable for a lay audience.

Comprehensive and packed with 27 pages of illustrated keys and 4,500 colour illustrations, this book provides the reader with a colourful and enjoyable introduction to the natural history of a huge group of insects, along with an overview of the diversity of the families included in this order. Introductory chapters include: Life Histories, Defense and Deception, Freshwater and Marine Beetles, Beetle Associations with Fungi, Dung and Carrion, Beetles, Plants and Plant Products, Beetles and other Animals. The second part of the book consists of a guided tour of the diversity of the order, with fascinating stops for all of the world' s 180 or so families as well as most of the significant subfamilies. The many photographs, almost all taken in the field by the author, are used to capture the range of form and function in each family. Essential information about importance, range, behaviour and biology is provided for each group, and easily used photographic keys to most families are provided for those wishing to use the book as an identification guide.