Beetles of Western North America

Book excerpt: "Beetles are incredibly diverse, with over 23,000 named species in the United States alone. They take on all hues, shapes, and sizes, from the iridescent green of the Western Cedar Borer to the striking red of the Rose Curculio. They can also be found in a wide range of habitats, from cold mountain streams to scorching deserts. Similar to its eastern counterpart, Beetles of Eastern North America, this book is a comprehensive guide to the beetles of the US and Canada that can be found west of the Continental Divide. It covers over 1,400 species across 130 different families. The book begins with a general introduction to beetles, with sections on morphology, behavior and natural history, and conservation, as well as information on how to find and photograph beetles. After the introduction, there is an illustrated key to common beetle families. The family descriptions include information on natural history, collection, identification, common genera and species, and similar families"--