by Dato’ Henry Barlow
Adib Vincent Tung has produced a comprehensive work on all the Stag Beetles family (Lucanidae) found in the Peninsula Malaysia and Borneo, covering a total of 242 species in all. They are divided between the 2 subfamilies, Aesalinae and Lucaninae. The Aesalinae are represented in this region by 9 species from 3 genera. The remaining 233 species are all within the Lucaninae.
The book starts with 84 pages of comprehensive introduction covering amongst others the history of beetle research in S E Asia and the legal position regarding collecting in the different countries of S E Asia. The author then focuses on the Lucanidae drawing attention with diagrams to the structure of the adult. Detailed figures of the ligula, being part of the labium or mouth parts are not provided, although features of this structure are of the antennae would also be welcome for similar reasons. However there is a useful checklist which differentiates the slightly mix species occurring in Peninsula Malaysia and Borneo. Further chapters in the introduction cover the life history of Lucanids, how to breed them and comments on the altitudinal distribution of the species.
The bulk of the book, over 200 pages is devoted to descriptions of the individual species, almost all illustrated in color and a few by line drawings, also showing the significant differences, not only between the males and females of the same species, but also, in the case of some species the wide range of variation in forms within the same species. It is no wonder that in some cases the males and females were initially described as different species. All species are shown life size, including the smaller ones which would benefit from magnification. The text with each species gives body length, habital preference, status of occurrence, general remarks and geographical distribution.
The book concludes with 67 pages of detailed checklist with citations of the original descriptions, a bibliography, picture credits, many from online sources and an index of scientific names.
This well produced book will serve as a key reference for the Lucanidae of the region for many years to come. It will be an essential reference for any coleopterist with an interest in the S.E. Asian Lucanid fauna. The author is to be congratulated for the massive amount of work which has been put into its writing.
—–
Stag Beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, 2025 by Adib Vincent Tung. Pp. i-xv, 1 – 436, Pb. ISBN 978-461-935-0. QL596. LB. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia. RM265.
