Az Alpokalja természeti képe közlemények 6. (Praenorica - Folia historico-naturalia. Szombathely, 2002)

Könyvismertetések;

Könyvismertetések — Book reviewes tribe, subfamily) of the Iberian-Balearian Cerambycidae species in alphabetical order with 5 subsequent whole-page color drawings to please the reader. ZOLTÁN MÉSZÁROS Eduard Petitpierre: Coleoptera - Chrysomelidae I. Fauna Ibérica Vol. 13., 521 pp. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid, 2000 The leaf-beetles have an important place in the beetle fauna of Europe in several ways. The relatively large number of species and the high proportion of species important from the point of view of plant protection make sure that the family receives special attention. The leaf-beetle fauna of various parts of Europe has been explored in a number of recent monographs. These include excellent works covering Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Northern Europe, for instance. Nothing comprehensive, however, has appeared before on the leaf-beetle fauna of the Iberian Peninsula, which makes this publication, treating seven subfamilies (Orsodacninae, Zeugophorinae, Donaciinae, Criocerinae, Clytrinae, Cryptocephalinae and Lamprosomatinae) in monographic form, especially welcome. The early chapters present the systematic position of the family and the geographical distribution of the species in it. There is a separate section on theories about the evolutionary and phylogenetic relations of the family and others on genetic and cytogenetic questions. Also detailed is the morphological treatment of the adult and the preimaginal states. A key to identifying the larvae in the subfamiliy level is also provided in this chapter. In presenting the variety of life histories, the author could only offer an outline of the most important characteristics. A new departure in the book is a presentation of collecting and conserving techniques and methods of examination. In the detailed part there is an identifying key and a morphological description of all species involved, with their distribution and living habits briefly described as well. The almost 30-page bibliography that concludes the volume is a goldmine for those seeking to immerse themselves in the subject. The appendix offers a list of synonyms and combinations for the species in seven subfamilies. The method of processing, combined with an identification key, is extremely fortunate. This weighty book is made all the more complete by artistic habitus drawings, a drawing of the aedeagus of all species mentioned, and presentations of the larva types in each subfamilies, which are all the more useful to those who do not read Spanish. (From this point of view, unfortunately, this valuable work will be accessible only to a small proportion of European researchers into the field. The problem, incidentally, arises with all 'national' fauna series prepared in the language 188