An Inordinate Fondness For Beetles
Text: A. V. Evans & C. L. Bellamy
Photographs: Lisa Charles Watson
Henry Holt & Co. (1st Edition, 1996)
University of California Press (Second Edition, 2000)
Springer Verlag Tokyo Science Bookclub
+30,500 copies in print.

Association of American Publishers:
1997 Excellence in Book Design and Production Award

"'Beetles rarely elicit from us the feelings of sympathy we easily afford cute and cuddly vertebrates,' the authors lament. So they have advanced an agenda of beetlephilia,' a scientific appreciation of the importance of beetles to the global ecosystem and a personal feeling that, by gosh, beetles sure are fascinating. They build a good case. Beetles--more precisely, insects belonging to the order Coleoptera--make up a hefty 20 percent of all known biological species and display a dazzling array of behavioral and morphological adaptations. The book's playfully artistic photographs give those facts and figures a rare visual grounding." - Scientific American

"This beautiful book . . . recounts not only the natural history of beetles but the human history of them as well. The best thing about this book, however, is the photographs. The specimens are more beautiful than nearly anything made by man, and proof not only of God's fondness for these creatures but also of His exquisite good taste." - Washington Post

"This is 'the age of beetles', note the authors of this delightfully detailed and richly illustrated book."
- San Diego Union Tribune

"An authoritative reference volume resplendently illustrated with line drawings and color photographs." - Nature

"The authors state their primary target is a general audience, and they hope to instill in it a greater appreciation for beetles and the scientists who study them. The target was well hit....This book is for the layperson, the amateur, or the professional entomologist....Their treatment, which provides the reader with the potential for a deep understanding and appreciation, is nothing short of admirable. I highly recommend this reasonably priced book, especially for anyone with an 'inordinate fondness for beetles'. " - American Entomologist

"The jewel-like beauty of the world's largest group of insects is breathtakingly captured in this handsome volume. Divided into six sections, this outstanding visual reference contains three appendices, selected references, and an index."
- Library Journal

"A bug-lovers bible." - College & Research Libraries News

"Here is the non-specialist's chance to be inspired.  Evans' and Bellamy's journey through beetle ecology is everywhere enhanced by Watson's bright pictures of some of nature's most exquisite creatures. Seek fondness, yes; find wonder and awe." - BBC Wildlife magazine, February 2001 issue

THE BEAUTY OF BEETLES: FACTS, PHOTOS AND PHILOSOPHY

An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles. Arthur V. Evans and Charles L. Bellamy. Photography by Lisa Charles Watson.
University of California Press, New York. 208 pp.

Evans and Bellamy love beetles and are not embarrassed to say so. Their goal is to help readers appreciate beetles, and their methods are the presentation of fantastic facts and beautiful photographs. Their philosophy is explicitly stated: the more we learn about one aspect of nature, the more we know and love the whole of nature. And, the aspect we study should be beetles.

The book is conventionally laid out with chapters on taxonomy, anatomy, beetle evolution and biogeography, life cycles, behavior and ecology, and beetle-human interactions including beetles as pests, as human food and medicine, beetles in art and beetle conservation. Information and examples are given from all parts of the world. Special emphasis is on structure and physical adaptations with limited information on ecology and agriculture. Methods scientists use to study beetles are illustrated with examples. Lists of beetle families, the world's best beetle collections, coleopterists' societies and references to books and articles are given in appendices.

Bellamy is a specialist in the aptly named jewel beetles (Buprestidae), and Evans studies scarabs: the lavish large-format photographs reflect their specialties and show the beetles themselves as jewels. Most illustrations show perfect pinned specimens of especially large and beautiful or fantastic species, singly or in artistic groups, against plain backgrounds. Line drawings are included to illustrate internal anatomy, life cycles etc.

The strengths of this book are in the descriptions and illustrations of structures and adaptations that make beetles unique, and in the attitudes of the authors concerning beetles: beetles are unique and valuable in their own right and should be considered on their own merits, rather than being considered "harmful" or "beneficial". Missing is attention to the functioning of beetles in whole ecosystems, although some information is given on trophic levels from the beetle's perspective as scavenger, herbivore, predator or prey.

Don't look here for information on common beetles of the prairie, farm or flour bin. Curl up by the fireside and enjoy this book, unless you are fortunate enough to spend the winter with some of these beetles in their tropical habitats.

Catherine C. Reed, Entomology Department, University of Minnesota, St. Paul MN 55018
- from The Prairie Naturalist, 2003