Carrion Beetles Of Canada And Alaska

The aim of this book is threefold: (,1) to provide a means of identifying adults of the various species of the families Silphidae and Agyrtidae and larvae of the various species of silphids known to occur in Canada and Alaska; (2) to review available biological information; and (3) to document the dis- tributions of all these snecies in North America. [...] Illustrated keys are given for the identification of adults and known larvae of all genera and species of North American silphids, north of Mexico, and of adults of all genera and species of North American agyrtids, north of Mexico. [...] The species treatments include the following infor- mation: North American (used hereafter to mean north of Mexico) synonymy, a brief diagnosis of the adult, a brief diagnosis of the larva (if known), a brief statement of the species distribution, a detailed distribution map show- ing localities where specimens of each species have been collected in Canada and Alaska, a map showing the approximate [...] The habit of adults of some family members of interring small vertebrate carcasses has also led to the use of the common names of sexton beetles and burying beetles. [...] Of the two life cycle patterns, that of the genus Nicrophorus in the sub- family Nicrophorinae is the more complex.

Beetles are the largest and most studied order of insects, some of which are beneficial as biological control agents. Alphabetically lists all species and subspecies of beetles known to Canada and Alaska under their respective genus-group names. Includes a brief introduction for every family treated and an index to all supraspecific names.