The Fauna of Madagascar series has been around for almost 50 years. In that time authors have published on a variety of taxa that occur on this remarkable island. Throughout the history of the series there has been a heavy emphasis on beetles. The latest volume by Jean-Bernard Huchet is no exception. Huchet is an expert on Chironidae (or Chironinae depending on which scarab classification scheme you ascribe to). He is in the process of giving a much-needed taxonomic overhaul to the group. Chironidae are odd-looking scarabs that occur in Africa, Asia (mainly India), and Madagascar and are allied taxonomically with Aphodiinae

Smith, Andrew B. T.

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Papers in Entomology Museum, University of Nebraska State 
September 2003 
Book Review: Insecta Coleoptra Chironidae (Huchet, J.-B. 2003) 
Andrew B. T. Smith 
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, asmith@unl.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers 
 Part of the Entomology Commons 
Smith, Andrew B. T., "Book Review: Insecta Coleoptra Chironidae (Huchet, J.-B. 2003)" (2003). Papers in 
Entomology. 119. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/119 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in Entomology by an 
authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
its taxonomic significance. Research Bulletin (Science) of the Panjab University 33. Parts
I–II:93–99.
Singh, T. 1986. A taxonomic study on the head appendages of adult Bruchidae (Coleoptera). Uttar
Pradesh Journal Zoological 6(1):52–57.
Snodgrass, R. E. 1935. Principles of insect morphology. McGraw-Hill, New York, viþ 667 pp.
Suzuki, K. 1994. Comparative morphology of the hind wing venation of the Chrysomelidae
(Coleoptera) [pp. 337–354]. In: Novel aspects of the biology of Chrysomelidae (P. H.
Jolivet and M. L. Cox, editors). Petitpierre publishers, Netherlands.
(Received 5 November 2001; accepted 10 April 2002. Publication date 12 September 2003.)
BOOK REVIEW
HUCHET, J.-B. 2003. Insecta Coleoptera Chironidae. Faune de Madagascar 90, 88 pp. ISSN
0428-0709. Price: 37 Euros (about 40 US). Available at the Fauna of Madagascar website: http://
www.mnhn.fr/publication/faunemad/index.html.
The Fauna of Madagascar series has been around for almost 50 years. In that time authors have
published on a variety of taxa that occur on this remarkable island. Throughout the history of the
series there has been a heavy emphasis on beetles. The latest volume by Jean-Bernard Huchet is no
exception. Huchet is an expert on Chironidae (or Chironinae depending on which scarab
classification scheme you ascribe to). He is in the process of giving a much-needed taxonomic
overhaul to the group. Chironidae are odd-looking scarabs that occur in Africa, Asia (mainly
India), and Madagascar and are allied taxonomically with Aphodiinae.
Huchet presents an excellent survey of the four species of Chironidae of Madagascar. The text
is in French with English translations for the abstract, key to species, and the descriptions of the
two new species. The volume begins with an introduction containing an overview of the
taxonomic history of the group and a discussion of the biogeography and origin of Chironidae.
This is followed by a detailed taxonomic treatment for all taxa (species, subgenera, and genera)
occurring in Madagascar. Also provided in this section are the key to all the species, distributional
data, habitat information, a larval description for one of the genera, and information on the phoretic
mites found on Chironidae in the study region. Finally, there are color habitat images and maps for
Madagascar and excellent illustrations and SEMs (65 figures in total) of many adult and larval
character states necessary for identification and taxonomic placement.
Overall this is an excellent work. The only drawback is the somewhat steep price relative to the
size and scope of the volume. Anyone interested in African and Madagascan scarabs and those
generally interested in the fauna and biogeography of Madagascar should consider buying a copy.
Longtime fans of the Fauna of Madagascar series will notice the facelift it has experienced in
recent years. Gone are the simple paper covers and plain colors. The new layout looks attractive
with a slick cover design and crisp color images within. The text is now more appealing to look at
and much easier to read. The paper used is thick and a marked improvement over the older
volumes.
Andrew B. T. Smith, Division of Entomology, W436 Nebraska Hall, University of Nebraska
State Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514, U.S.A.
(Received and accepted 22 April 2003. Publication date 12 September 2003.)
309THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 57(3), 2003


Book Review: \u3ci\u3eInsecta Coleoptra Chironidae\u3c/i\u3e (Huchet, J.-B. 2003)

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers in Entomology Museum, University of Nebraska State September 2003 Book Review: Insecta Coleoptra Chironidae (Huchet, J.-B. 2003) Andrew B. T. Smith University of Nebraska - Lincoln, asmith@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers  Part of the Entomology Commons Smith, Andrew B. T., "Book Review: Insecta Coleoptra Chironidae (Huchet, J.-B. 2003)" (2003). Papers in Entomology. 119. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/119 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in Entomology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. its taxonomic significance. Research Bulletin (Science) of the Panjab University 33. PartsI–II:93–99.Singh, T. 1986. A taxonomic study on the head appendages of adult Bruchidae (Coleoptera). UttarPradesh Journal Zoological 6(1):52–57.Snodgrass, R. E. 1935. Principles of insect morphology. McGraw-Hill, New York, viþ 667 pp.Suzuki, K. 1994. Comparative morphology of the hind wing venation of the Chrysomelidae(Coleoptera) [pp. 337–354]. In: Novel aspects of the biology of Chrysomelidae (P. H.Jolivet and M. L. Cox, editors). Petitpierre publishers, Netherlands.(Received 5 November 2001; accepted 10 April 2002. Publication date 12 September 2003.)BOOK REVIEWHUCHET, J.-B. 2003. Insecta Coleoptera Chironidae. Faune de Madagascar 90, 88 pp. ISSN0428-0709. Price: 37 Euros (about 40 US). Available at the Fauna of Madagascar website: http://www.mnhn.fr/publication/faunemad/index.html.The Fauna of Madagascar series has been around for almost 50 years. In that time authors havepublished on a variety of taxa that occur on this remarkable island. Throughout the history of theseries there has been a heavy emphasis on beetles. The latest volume by Jean-Bernard Huchet is noexception. Huchet is an expert on Chironidae (or Chironinae depending on which scarabclassification scheme you ascribe to). He is in the process of giving a much-needed taxonomicoverhaul to the group. Chironidae are odd-looking scarabs that occur in Africa, Asia (mainlyIndia), and Madagascar and are allied taxonomically with Aphodiinae.Huchet presents an excellent survey of the four species of Chironidae of Madagascar. The textis in French with English translations for the abstract, key to species, and the descriptions of thetwo new species. The volume begins with an introduction containing an overview of thetaxonomic history of the group and a discussion of the biogeography and origin of Chironidae.This is followed by a detailed taxonomic treatment for all taxa (species, subgenera, and genera)occurring in Madagascar. Also provided in this section are the key to all the species, distributionaldata, habitat information, a larval description for one of the genera, and information on the phoreticmites found on Chironidae in the study region. Finally, there are color habitat images and maps forMadagascar and excellent illustrations and SEMs (65 figures in total) of many adult and larvalcharacter states necessary for identification and taxonomic placement.Overall this is an excellent work. The only drawback is the somewhat steep price relative to thesize and scope of the volume. Anyone interested in African and Madagascan scarabs and thosegenerally interested in the fauna and biogeography of Madagascar should consider buying a copy.Longtime fans of the Fauna of Madagascar series will notice the facelift it has experienced inrecent years. Gone are the simple paper covers and plain colors. The new layout looks attractivewith a slick cover design and crisp color images within. The text is now more appealing to look atand much easier to read. The paper used is thick and a marked improvement over the oldervolumes.Andrew B. T. Smith, Division of Entomology, W436 Nebraska Hall, University of NebraskaState Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514, U.S.A.(Received and accepted 22 April 2003. Publication date 12 September 2003.)309THE COLEOPTERISTS BULLETIN 57(3), 2003

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Book Review: \u3ci\u3eInsecta Coleoptra Chironidae\u3c/i\u3e (Huchet, J.-B. 2003)

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