A Treatise on the Western Hemisphere Caraboidea (Coleoptera): Their Classification, Distributions, and Ways of Life: Trachypachidae, Carabidae - ... ... Faunistica) (Pensoft Series Faunistica)

A synthesis of the classification, distributions, and ways of life of the ground-beetles (Coleoptera: Caraboidea) dwelling in the Western Hemisphere. Under each taxon account, the historical nomenclature, 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 an extensive, nearly complete 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 notes on diel activity, adult/larval hibernation, prey items, immatures, over wintering, and other notes on behavior are presented. Details of dispersal power, or the capability of dispersal, i.e. wing condition, flight data, walking, running, burrowing and climbing records, as far as is known is included. Species introduced are noted with their probable area of origin. This work, planned as a seven 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, and 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 the 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).