Beetles of Western North America


Book Description

"Beetles are incredibly diverse, with over 23,000 named species in the United States alone. They take on all hues, shapes, and sizes, from the iridescent green of the Western Cedar Borer to the striking red of the Rose Curculio. They can also be found in a wide range of habitats, from cold mountain streams to scorching deserts. Similar to its eastern counterpart, Beetles of Eastern North America, this book is a comprehensive guide to the beetles of the US and Canada that can be found west of the Continental Divide. It covers over 1,400 species across 130 different families. The book begins with a general introduction to beetles, with sections on morphology, behavior and natural history, and conservation, as well as information on how to find and photograph beetles. After the introduction, there is an illustrated key to common beetle families. The family descriptions include information on natural history, collection, identification, common genera and species, and similar families"--







Aleocharine Rove Beetles of Eastern Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae): A Glimpse of Megadiversity


Book Description

A first comprehensive synopsis of all aleocharine rove beetle species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) recorded from eastern Canada, from Ontario to the Maritime Provinces inclusively, is presented. Four hundred and seven species in 96 genera, and 16 tribes are presented and discussed.Tribes and subtribes are arranged in presumably phylogenetic order as it is currently recognized. Genera and subgenera are listed alphabetically. Species are listed alphabetically or in species groups to better reflect their relationships. Species distribution is listed by abbreviated provinces and territories in Canada and abbreviated states in the United States. Geographic status is given to every species as Native, Holarctic or adventive with some species listed with undetermined status - adventive or Holarctic. Every treated species is presented with a diagnosis, including short description of body and description of the median lobe of aedeagus, spermatheca, and tergite and sternite VIII of both sexes. For each species a plate with colour habitus image and black and white images of genital structures is provided to aid with positive identification. Collection and habitat data (often new) are presented for each species, including data on macrohabitat, microhabitat, collecting period, and collecting methods.




A Faunal Review of Aleocharine Beetles in the Rapidly Changing Arctic and Subarctic Regions of North America (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)


Book Description

Arctic and Subarctic North America is particularly affected by climate change, where average temperatures are rising three times faster than the global average. Documenting the changing climate/environment of the north requires a structured knowledge of indicator taxa that reflect the effects of climate changes.Aleocharine beetles are a dominant group of forest insects, which are being used in many projects as indicators of environmental change. Many species are forest specialists restricted to certain microhabitats, some are generalists and others are open habitat specialists. They represent many ecological niches and, as such, are good indicators for many other species as well. The majority of Canadian aleocharine beetle species (about 600 spp.) has been studied and published by Jan Klimaszewski et al. (2018, 2020), mainly from southern, central, and western Canada, while the northern taxa remain poorly known and documented. The aim of the present book is to summarize the knowledge on this insect group in the Arctic and Subarctic North America and to provide a diagnostic and ecological tool for scientists studying and monitoring insects in northern Canada and Alaska. The book includes a review of the literature, information on 238 species and their habitats, taxonomic review, images, and identification tools.




Coleoptera, Beetles. Morphology and Systematics


Book Description

This book is a revised edition of the first of three volumes in the Handbook of Zoology series which treats the systematics and biology of Coleoptera. With over 380,000 described species, Coleoptera are by far the most species-rich order of insects and the largest group of animals of comparable geological age. Moreover, numerous species are tremendously important economically. The beetle volumes meet the demand of modern biologists seeking to answer questions about Coleoptera phylogeny, evolution, and ecology. This first Coleoptera volume covers the suborders Archostemata, Myxophaga and Adephaga, and the basal series of Polyphaga, with information on world distribution, biology, morphology of all life stages, phylogeny and comments on taxonomy.




Biology of Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae)


Book Description

Rove beetles (Staphylinidae) are common elements of the soil biota, living in the litter and deeper soil layers. Although they are one of the most diverse and speciose groups of insects, no comprehensive books on their general evolution and ecology are as yet available. This book fills that gap, discussing significant aspects and active research examples in the fields of phylogeny and systematics, ecology and conservation, and reproduction and development. The combination of review chapters and case studies provides an excellent introduction to the biology of rove beetles and enables readers to become familiar with active research fields in this megadiverse group of beetles. Offering easy access to these fields, it also demonstrates how staphylinids are used as bioindicators in applied ecosystem research, including that concerning conservation issues. Experienced scientists and beginners alike find the diversity of subjects covered intriguing and inspiring for continuing and starting their own research. The book is intended for students and researchers in biology and zoology (entomology), including morphologists, ecologists, soil scientists, evolutionary biologists, paleontologists, biogeographers, taxonomists and systematists.




Aleocharine Rove Beetles of British Columbia: A Hotspot of Canadian Biodiversity (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)


Book Description

Aleocharine beetles are among the most poorly known and difficult-to-identify groups of Coleoptera worldwide. This book presents the first comprehensive synopsis of aleocharine rove beetle species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) from British Columbia, Canada. It is important to generate a structured inventory of species in hotspots of biodiversity like British Columbia, to provide baseline biodiversity data for monitoring species responses related to climate change. It is the first book to treat and illustrate every recorded and new species. For every species, color illustrations are provided, including color habitus and genital diagnostic structures of both sexes. Two hundred and twenty-seven valid species, including 14 new species, 16 new generic records, and 36 (excluding new species) new provincial and 6 state records, in 79 genera and 14 tribes.Tribes and subtribes are arranged in phylogenetic order as it is currently recognized, and genera and subgenera are listed alphabetically within each tribe or subtribe. Species are listed alphabetically or in species groups to better reflect their relationships. Species distribution is listed by provinces and territories in Canada and states in the United States, and the geographic origin of each species is categorized as native, Holarctic, adventive or undetermined (either adventive or Holarctic). Every species is presented with a morphological diagnosis including external and genital characters of both sexes. Collection and habitat data are presented for each species, including collecting period, and collecting methods. A list of all Canadian species with their currently known distribution in North America is presented at the end of the book.




Checklist of Beetles of Canada and Alaska


Book Description

Beetles are the largest and most studied order of insects, some of which are beneficial as biological control agents. Alphabetically lists all species and subspecies of beetles known to Canada and Alaska under their respective genus-group names. Includes a brief introduction for every family treated and an index to all supraspecific names.




Biosystematics and Ecology of Canadian Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) II


Book Description

New taxonomic, distribution and habitat data are presented for Canadian species of the family Staphylinidae (Coleoptera). Distributional records are presented mostly from New Brunswick, Ontario and Yukon Territory. For New Brunswick, 186 new provincial records, 11 new records for Canada, and 10 new records of adventive species are provided. For Ontario, 47 new provincial records and 25 new Canadian records are provided, and 5 species are described as new to science. For Yukon Territory, 20 new territorial records and 1 new Canadian record are provided and 9 species are described as new to science. A total of 253 new provincial/territorial records, 37 new Canadian records, and 14 species new to science are treated in this volume. Lectotypes are designated for several species and seven synonyms are proposed. All new species and many species representing new distributional records are illustrated by color habitus images and black and white images of the genital structures. This volume on Canadian rove beetle biodiversity contributes new taxonomic research and important baseline data, and significantly updates the known staphylinid faunas of New Brunswick, Ontario, Yukon Territory, and Canada.