Charles Darwin (1809–82) and Alfred Russel

Wallace (1823–1913), the two Victorian

naturalists who independently disentangled and

discovered the mechanism of natural selection,

the driving force of evolution, were by hobby and

inclination beetle collectors. People who immerse

themselves in the meticulous study of such

hyperdiverse organisms may be seeing a picture

of the world with a lot more “pixels,” a lot more

detail. During detailed study and identification of

beetles, huge similarities and minute differences

between species, which inhabit different areas or

even have completely different behaviors, make

it difficult to escape the thought that they may in

fact be related, and have a common origin. The

observer may start to ponder the reasons for the

changes. This provided the spark, the eureka

moment for both Darwin and Wallace, and the

rest fell into place. It is a humbling thought that

human understanding of our place in the universe

is partly because two young people, 150 years ago,

liked collecting beetles.

Beetles dominate and maintain terrestrial

ecosystems worldwide, being absent only from

the oceans and Antarctica. Almost anywhere

on the surface of the world, one is never more

than a few feet from a beetle. It is hoped that this

book will give some overview of their vast range

of form, function, and behavior, and will help

to stimulate a curiosity and fascination with this

essential, hyperdiverse, and truly inspiring group

of animals.

left | Chrysochroa fulgidissima (Buprestidae)

A Metallic Wood Boring Beetle from the forests

of eastern Asia. Adults fly in sunshine, and the

stunning colors are caused by refraction of light.

PHOTO BY KENJI KOHIYAMA