A Guide to Stag Beetles of Australia
By: George Hangay, Roger de Keyzer
A comprehensive, stunningly illustrated guide to this unusual and diverse family of beetles.
Most Australian stag beetles live secretive lives, spending the majority of their life cycle inside decaying timber or under logs sunken in the soil. Yet these active recyclers of the forest are admired by beetle-loving people worldwide. Their aesthetic appeal and the rarity of some species make them of great value to collectors: the beetles in the subfamily Lampriminae are splendidly colourful, while others show an amazing variety in male mandible size and structure. + Full description
A Guide to Stag Beetles of Australia is a comprehensive account of the 95 lucanid species found in Australia. This book reveals their diversity and beauty, looks in detail at their morphology, habitats and ecology, and explains how to collect, keep and preserve them. Natural history enthusiasts and professional and amateur coleopterists alike will benefit from the use of this guide.
The book features some stunning images from entomologist and photographer Paul Zborowski. Paul has over 40 years' experience of field-based study of insects and related creatures in habitats all over the world.
- Short descriptionReviews
"The high points of the book are numerous. Photographs of the adult beetles, immature stages and their environments are excellent. In addition, the comparative descriptions provided to assist in successful identification of species are very useful... this fine work must go down as one of the best entomological books on the Australian beetle fauna."
Trevor Lambkin, Metamorphosis Australia - magazine of the Butterfly and Other Invertebrates Club, #86, September 2017, pp. 32-33
"many naturalists in Australia will welcome this book, written by two highly experienced coleopterists, as the first complete species-level Guide to Australian stag beetles. All 95 species (in 18 genera) currently known from Australia are discussed and illustrated by clear colour photographs... This well-produced and welcome Guide... is an important contribution to documenting the basic scope and biology of this notable family in a manner that can be used easily and effectively by a wide spectrum of readers."
Tim R. New, Journal of Insect Conservation, July 201
"This book provides very detailed descriptions of each stag beetle species and instructive photos of them and some of their habitats... Now that Australia has a comprehensive field guide, perhaps stag beetles will win more admirers here."
Tim Low, Wildlife Australia, Spring 2017
"an absolute ‘must-have’ for anyone who is interested in this family of beetles. The book is written in such a way that both the expert and the amateur will find it beneficial... This book will undoubtedly be a classic as a guide to an insect family in Australia and will be a valuable asset for the naturalist for years to come."
Mike Bouffard and Jo Bornemissza, The Tasmanian Naturalist 139, 2017
"Collating information for such a comprehensive coverage of all the known species is no mean feat and it will be much appreciated by all beetle enthusiasts."
Margaret Humphrey, The Victorian Naturalist 135(1), February 2018
"The Guide is filled with information about some of the world’s most fascinating beetles to be rewarding for anyone with an interest in natural history."
M. J. Paulsen, The Coleopterists Bulletin 71(4) 2017
"While these insects are impressive in themselves, the enthusiasm and practical experience of the authors permeates the text making it a pleasure to read."
Graeme Smith, General and Applied Entomology 45 2017
Details
Paperback | April 2017 | $ 49.95ISBN: 9781486302086 | 256 pages | 215 x 148 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs, Illustrations
ePDF | April 2017
ISBN: 9781486302093
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
ePUB | April 2017
ISBN: 9781486302109
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
Features
- Provides the reader with relatively simple, brief descriptions of each of the 98 species of Australian stag beetles, including their distribution, habitats and notes on their biology.
- Is the very first stag beetle guide in Australia which details every species of the family, yet still on a guide book level.
- Australian stag beetles are very much sought after by local and overseas collectors alike.
- Contributor Paul Zborowski operates the specialist image bank www.close-up-photolibrary.com
Contents
PrefaceAcknowledgements
Part I
Classification
The language of entomology
Morphology
The Lucanidae
Origins of the Australian stag beetle fauna
Taxonomic studies of the Australian stag beetle fauna
Part II
Checklist of Australian Lucanidae
Aesalinae
Lampriminae
Syndesinae
Lucaninae
Part III
How to find stag beetles
Keeping live stag beetles
Field preservation and collection management
Entomological societies in Australia
Major insect collections in Australia
Recommended publications for your library
Glossary
References
Index
Authors
George Hangay has studied beetles in many parts of the world but has focused on the Australian fauna during the last four decades. After retiring from the Australian Museum, where he worked as Chief Preparator, he took part in various projects as a consultant, curated the insect collection of AQIS (NSW) and wrote several books. He continues to collaborate with many Australian and overseas coleopterists. George is also the author of A Guide to the Beetles of Australia.
Roger de Keyzer works for the NSW Environment Protection Authority and is an internationally known entomologist, specialising in stag and longicorn beetles. He is an associate of the Australian Museum, having worked there for many years. Roger has published a number of scientific papers in both entomology and malacology and has a keen interest in macro photography.
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