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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.
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.
A Guide to Stag Beetles of Australia 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's tropics, and operates a specialist image bank.
Part I
- The language of entomology
- Historical background and current research
- Stag beetle research in Australia
- Overseas research of the Australian stag beetle fauna (major researchers and literature)
- The Australian stag beetle fauna
- Development of the stag beetles
- Gondwanan connections
- Development and composition of the Australian fauna
- Morphology
- General beetle morphology
- What differentiates stag beetles from the other beetles?
- Biology
- The life of a stag beetle
- General beetle biology, development, mating, metamorphosis etc.
- Specific stag beetle biology, food preferences, preferred environment and climate
Part II
- Checklist of currently recognised species
- Species descriptions
- Collecting and collection
- Collecting philosophy: why is it necessary, the ethics of collecting, moral and legal aspects, nature and the need for environmental protection
- Methods
- Collecting, field preservation, data recording
- Basic methods for setting up and maintaining a collection
- Major collections in Australia
- International online forums (e.g. Scarab Workers of the World)
- Breeding
- Basic methods, equipment, culture substrata, food, humidity, temperature
Glossary
Literature (source material)
Index
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.
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.
