The Prionids of the Neotropical Region

The Prionids of the Neotropical Region

An Illustrated Catalogue of Beetles

Prionids Collection – Volume II

The Prionids of the Neotropical Region is the second volume in the Prionids Collection series and is devoted to the extraordinarily rich and ecologically complex Neotropical biogeographical region, one of the world’s principal centers of beetle diversity. This authoritative work focuses on the subfamily Prioninae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), presenting a structured and visually detailed overview of Neotropical prionid beetles.

Building directly on the concept and layout of the first volume, this book expands the geographical scope while maintaining a consistent methodological and editorial framework, allowing direct comparison across regions.

Scientific Scope and Regional Focus

The Neotropical region, encompassing Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern portions of Mexico, is characterized by vast habitat heterogeneity, including tropical rainforests, seasonally dry forests, savannas, montane systems, and coastal environments. These conditions have promoted extensive diversification within Prioninae, resulting in numerous endemic taxa and a wide range of morphological and ecological adaptations.

This volume provides a comprehensive guide to Neotropical prionids, addressing their biology, geographical distribution, and identification, and serves as an essential reference for professionals and advanced amateurs working in tropical entomology and biodiversity research.

Illustrated Catalogue and Taxonomic Structure

At its core, The Prionids of the Neotropical Region is conceived as a high-quality illustrated catalogue. The book features:

  • a hierarchically organized list of specimens,

  • and a main photographic section illustrating 100 carefully selected beetles.

Each illustrated specimen is documented using high-resolution photography that highlights key diagnostic characters, including body form, antennal morphology, mandibles, and pronotal structure. Accompanying data include:

  • taxonomic identification,

  • actual body size,

  • sex,

  • locality and region of origin.

This standardized presentation facilitates reliable identification and comparative study across genera and tribes.

Introductory Chapters: Ecology, Seasonality, and Variability

The introductory section provides essential contextual information specific to the Neotropical region. Readers are introduced to:

  • the ecological and biogeographical characteristics of the Neotropics,

  • optimal periods for collecting prionid beetles in different subregions,

  • selected examples of intraspecific and interspecific variability, illustrating the morphological diversity typical of Neotropical Prioninae.

These sections are particularly valuable for field entomologists and collectors, offering practical insights grounded in regional experience.

Museum Types and Reference Tables

The concluding part of the book is enriched with specialized tables documenting type specimens from the Neotropical region housed in the Natural History Museum, London. These tables provide an important link between the illustrated material and historical type collections, enhancing the scientific credibility and reference value of the volume.

Additionally, the book includes a cumulative list of species already published within the Prionids Collection series. This cross-referencing tool is designed to grow with future volumes and enables readers to quickly locate species across the expanding series.

Subfamily Prioninae of the World I.
The Prionids of the World
The Prionids of the Neotropical Region
The Prionids Collection Bundle

Production Quality and Continuity of the Series

As with the first volume, the second installment adheres to high production standards, ensuring durability and long-term usability. The consistent structure, visual style, and taxonomic organization across volumes reinforce the series’ value as a coherent global reference for Prioninae.

Intended Audience and Scientific Value

The Prionids of the Neotropical Region serves multiple functions:

  • an illustrated identification guide for Neotropical Prioninae,

  • a regional synthesis of prionid diversity and distribution,

  • a practical resource for fieldwork and museum-based research,

  • a visual archive of significant and representative taxa.

The volume is indispensable for professional entomologists, taxonomists, museum curators, biodiversity researchers, advanced coleopterists, and dedicated insect enthusiasts with an interest in Neotropical beetle fauna.

Contribution to Prionid Research

By integrating detailed imagery, structured taxonomy, regional ecological context, and museum-based reference data, this volume represents a significant contribution to the documentation and understanding of Neotropical Prioninae. Together with the first volume and forthcoming regional installments, it forms part of an ambitious effort to create a comprehensive, geographically structured reference series for prionid beetles worldwide.