Jewel Beetles of the World

Description

A total of 504 species and subspecies in 111 genera of the superfamily Buprestoidea are published.

Expert supervision of this publication was provided by V. Kubáň (Šlapanice u Brna, Czech Republic). The validity of the names of the included taxa and their correct spelling, authorship and year of publication follow the most recently published works. The world catalogue of the superfamily Buprestoidea (Bellamy 2008, 2009) and the second supplemented edition of the Palearctic Catalogue (Kubáň 2016) were used as a basis. Where revision papers were published after these dates, the data from these papers were used as above (eg. Hołyński 2009, 2014, Moore & Vidal 2015, Frank &Sekerka 2016, 2020, Frank 2000).
The confirmationof the identifications of the included taxa was entirely based on photographs. The included taxa from Palaearctic and Oriental Regions were verifiedby V. Kubáň based on his private collection and his private library. The included taxa from the remaining zoogeographical regions were verifiedby V. Kubáň with the help of his private collection, the collection of the Entomological Department of the National Museum in Prague and on the basis of his private library. The genera Belionota, Chrysodema, Cyphogastra, Paracupta and Iridotaenia were modified thanks to extensive comments by D. Frank (Prague, Czech Republic). Only the North American species of the genus Acmaeodera remain in their original unrevised state.

The first title in the FAMILIES SERIES, which is mainly intended for nature enthusiasts, insect photographers, educators and amateur collectors. The edition aims to motivate the younger generation to protect the natural habitats to which insects are vitally attached.

In the book you will find individual views of interesting species from the top and side view in high resolution. Another section features illustrations of specimens with a geographical map. The last section consists of tabular lists of 12 species including country, locality and date of collection.

Preface

The aim of this visual guide is to introduce these amazing representatives, commonly known as Jewel beetles, to all nature enthusiasts. The book is exceptional in its detailed identification views and the multitude of genera and species represented.

Specifically, more than 500 species from about 111 genera are pictured, structured according to Löbl & Löbl. The classification of tribes is not definitive and is provided in the book for orientation and grouping purposes only. Illustrations of some of the species depicted here have never been previously published.

The book is divided into a main section with high-resolution dorsal and lateral illustrations and a biogeographical section showing the different genera in relation to their distribution in the area. An overall view of the species diversity of the Jewel beetles is shown in the last genera section in an arrangement of 12 exemplars.

In order to add more species later and to draw attention to the current classification, we are creating an electronic book that will be an interesting complement to the printed book.

Foreword I

Jewel Beetles are an interesting and popular group of around 15,500 species, distributed mainly in the tropical regions. They include the genus Agrilus, a candidate for the most species-rich genus in the animal kingdom with over 2000 described species (a good selection illustrated here), and the rare and gigantic Aaata finchi from Balochistan, hardly ever illustrated before.

This book follows from the author’s excellent Tiger Beetles of the World and Ground Beetles of Africa but is even more ambitious and comprehensive. It illustrates a representative selection of Jewel Beetle species, including all tribes, over 100 genera and 500 species, carefully chosen to show the range of form and colour as well as the taxonomic diversity of these magnificent beetles. It is organised in an intuitive and helpful way, with sections showing members of the genera grouped together with their relatives, and sections showing detailed close up photographs of individual species, based on carefully chosen and perfectly prepared collection specimens. It finishes with an Appendix with the locality data of each specimen, and notes on biogeography.

Jewel beetles earnt their name from the striking metallic colours of the adults, but they have a short adult season and spend most of their lives as larvae hidden deep within the wood. They can also be difficult to find, and difficult to catch due to their great speed. One could travel the whole world and never see the range of diversity that is presented in this incredible book. Leafing through it feels like having a personal window into one of the world’s great museum collections.

This book is scientifically valuable, and artistically beautiful, but it will play an even more important role in society. Today, one of the biggest threats to natural habitats is irrelevance, as the general public becomes ever more removed from contact with and interest in biodiversity. Books like this are essential, to help reverse this trend and re-engage people with the beauty
and intricacy of nature, and can change a person’s whole perception of beetles and open their eyes to the extraordinary and fascinating world that is all around them.

— Maxwell Barclay
Senior Curator of Coleoptera, The Natural History Museum, London, UK