4 ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 7:4. 19.VI.1996 Review Pfeffer, A. 1995: Zentral- und westpaHiarktische Borken- und Kernkafer (Coleoptera: Scolytidae, Platypodidae) . -Pro Entomologica, c/o Naturhistorisches Museum Basel. 310 pp. ISBN 3-9520840-6-9. CHF45. The ecology, taxonomy and systematics of the bark grise us is regarded as a species, but there is some beetles (Scolytidae and Platypodidae) have been confusion here according to the Enumeratio. The intensively studied for decades. However, even status of the family Scolytoplatypodidae remains a though these insects play a significant role in forest bit obscure, it occurs in the key, but not in the text ecosystems, many of them are known as major owing to its even more eastern distribution. These pests of woody plants, there are only few textbooks minor differences indicate that future work on bark concerning their identification. The present book is beetle systematics would require a more sophisti the first one to cover the taxonomy of bark beetle cated methodology. species from all over Europe even including the An excellent compilation of host plants and eastern element of the fauna comprising a total of bark beetles is given in the fourth section. The list 311 species. The information presented in the book nicely shows plant species of high bark beetle rich is based on Dr. Antonfn Pfeffer's 70-year-long ex ness, but it also highlights species which are associ perience in the forests of the Central and West ated with one bark beetle species only. Though the palaearctic regions of Europe. compilation is highly necessary as such, more in The contents is divided into seven separate sec formation on the ecological relationships between tions. The first section briefly describes the biology trees and bark beetles would increase the usability of bark beetles, such as host plant selection, insect of this section. The next two sections cover the fungi associations, life cycle, mother gallery con literature which is divided into monographs, bibli struction, and species occurrence in different parts of ographies and some important studies, and an in the tree. In addition, the bark beetle fauna is divided dex. The literature gives a comprehensive view into 14 tables according to their geographic distribu especially on the older, often ignored references, tion in the area. The second section gives a very short but some more recent titles are missing. overview of the bibliography of the bark beetles. The seventh section gives illustrations of se Bark beetle taxonomy is covered in the third lected bark beetles. The drawings are clear, but section. It gives usable and well thought out keys have been mainly adopted from previously pub for the identification of families, subfamilies, tribes, lished literature and, consequently, do not follow genera and species. The species concept is dealt any stylistic uniformity. Scanning electron micro with in a manner which would be familiar to most scope micrographs and photographs of gallery sys taxonomists. The keys are based on morphological tems give supplementary information on species characters, but in some difficult cases (e.g. Poly identification, but there is a lot of variation in the graphus, Dryocoetes) chemical markers or pictures quality especially in the photographs. The position of genitalia would be valuable. All Central Euro of all illustrations at the end of the book is an pean species seem to be dealt with. The reliability inexpensive solution, but it unfortunately hampers of the keys is increased by the fact that only speci the use of the book as an identification guide. Also mens which have been seen by the author have the audience of the book would be wider if it had been included. been published in English instead of German. Comparison with Silfverberg' s ( 1992) Enume The critical comments above are not serious ratio Coleopterorum Fennoscandiae, Daniae et ones. Zentral-und westpaliiarktische Borken-und Baltiae shows some differences in the species sta Kernkiifer is an important and welcome book pre tus and geographical distribution. Crypturgus senting a new bark beetle species assemblage. Due cine reus and C. subcribosus have been combined to its solid packaging of information, handy size in the present book but they are treated separately and moderate price this book will be a useful and in the Enumeratio. Carphoborus teplouchovi is said informative companion for both forest entomolo to occur in northern Finland, but does not belong to gists and insect taxonomists. the Finnish fauna according to the Enumeratio. Hylurgops starki is not mentioned but occurs as a species in the Enumeratio. Finally, Polygraphus Kari Heliovaara