• Description
• Images (1)
• Write a review

A synthesis of the taxonomy, distributions, and ways of life of the ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) dwelling in the Western Hemisphere. Under each taxon account, the historical taxonomy, distribution at the country and/or state/province level, and way of life, including macrohabitat, microhabitat, dispersal abilities, seasonal occurrence, and behavior are elaborated. Selected references for each taxon are given in these categories and supplemental bibliography of Caraboidea references for the Western Hemisphere is presented. The sections on way of life include the following: macrohabitat summary, altitudinal distribution in meters, as well as a general altitudinal classification, habitat/microhabitat details, seasonality, and under behavior, there are notes on diel activity, adult/larval hibernation, prey items, immatures, over wintering, and other pertinent notes presented.

Details of dispersal power, or the capability of dispersal, i.e. wing condition, flight data, walking, running, swimming, and climbing records, as far as is known, are included. This work, planned as a ten-volume companion to Larochelle & Lariviere (2003), will be an indispensable tool for anybody interested in ground-beetles per se and their natural history, as well as their role in the environment and importance to agriculture, conservation, forestry.

National, regional, and local libraries will find this set of tools well used due to the incredible amount of information that is summarized at these geographical levels. This work follows a modified classification of Erwin (1984), and the nomenclature of Lorenz (2005), as updated on a six-month cycle by Erwin (e-data base, NMNH, Smithsonian Institution) from recently published literature.