Embedded Files
Starting in 2024 (for about a year now, at the time of writing this), I've been working on two core sections of the upcoming book "Beetles of Canada and the United States" (a.k.a. BOCUS): the anatomy section and updating (along with many others) the key published in American Beetles in 2002. I'm also working with colleagues to update the checklist of broad-nosed weevils recorded from this region and led writing the chapter for the family Hydrophilidae.
These exercises have taken me through multiple adventures of discovery in the anatomical diversity of beetles and through the rich history of beetle classification in the United States.
I have found multiple jewels in both realms, so this is my way to store and share those jewels with whoever reads this.
This is a work on progress and will be updated whenever more is available.
February 15, 2025
"Entomological literature is already immense and becomes more so every day. Some entomologists do not know this well enough; among those who know its full extent, how many are there who, as a result of various circumstances, cannot, when they want to undertake a work, engage in the preliminary research that is necessary for them? From there, among other unfortunate results, the alarming extension of synonymy, this leprosy of the natural sciences. A work which would spare, even in part, the people of whom I speak, this indispensable research, could, manifestly, only be useful to them, on the condition however that it were as complete as possible, and that the sources were carefully indicated."
"My role is limited to pointing out their existence to the reader, to indicate where to will find their description; it is up to the reader to verify their value."
Lacordaire 1854
Lacordaire 1854
Lacordaire, T. (1854) Tome Premier. Contenant les familles des Cicindélètes, Carabiques, Ditiscides, Gyrinides et Palpicornes. In: Histoire naturelle des insectes. Genera des Coléoptères, ou exposé méthodique et critique de tous les genres proposés jusqu’ici dans cet ordre d’insectes. Librairie encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, p. 486.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9623497
On the importance of compiling information and avoid creating more words when those already exist to define the same things.
As a collector of published facts, Lacordaire warned about following his word blindly.
LeConte 1862
LeConte 1862
LeConte, J.L. (1862) Classification of the Coleoptera of North America. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. 286 pp. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26620891
LeConte went rogue on the established European classification system!
LeConte & Horn 1876
LeConte & Horn 1876
LeConte, J.L. & Horn, G.H. (1876) The Rhynchophora of America, North of Mexico. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 15, vii–442.
Weevils were considered not "true" or "normal" Coleoptera for some time. The many anatomical reasons for this start on page xi.
Classifying broad-nosed weevils has been challenging from the start. p. 16
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