There are possibly 30 000 species of beetle in Australia - no one knows for sure. But professional entomologists, students and keen amateurs alike will find what is known about this striking, diverse and intriguing order of insects in this comprehensive guide by two of the world's recognised experts. Australian Beetles is a detailed account of the beetle fauna of Australia; it includes general discussions of adult and larval anatomy, general biology and economic significance, keys to families based on larvae and adults, and a brief coverage of each of the 117 families occurring on the continent.

Rhinorhipus tamborinensis, gen, et sp. nov., is described from southern Queensland, Australia, and is made the type of a new family, Rhinorhipidae, fam. nov. The major morphological features of Rhinorhipus are compared with those of related taxa of Polyphaga (Elateriformia, Dascilloidea and Eucinetoidea). Comments are made on the phylogeny and classification of elateriforms based on cladistic and phenetic analyses of a 25 taxon-112 character data set, and a tentative superfamily classification of Elateriformia, sensu novo is proposed.

Austrelater, gen, nov., is proposed for three new species, A. macphersonensisfrom New South Wales and southern Queensland, A. peckorum from North Queensland and A. howensis from Lord Howe Island. The reared larva of Austrelater macphersonensis, gen. et sp. nov., is described and figured. The phylogenetic relationships of the genus are discussed and a selection of adult and larval characters used in the cladistic analysis are discussed. The subfamily Lissominae is redefined to include Oestodes, Austrelater, Sphaenelater, Protelater and those taxa (Lissomus, Drapetes) formerly included in the Lissominae (usually in Throscidae or as Lissomidae).

An annotated checklist of Australian tenebrionid genera is given, with notes on new tribal and subfamily placements based on recent studies. The tribes Heterocheirini and Scaphidemini are used in a new sense, and the new tribes Chaerodini and Ectychini are proposed. The tribes Dysantini and Rhipidandrini have been reduced to subtribes. The following generic synonymy is proposed: Ulomoides Blackburn (= Palembus Casey). Alphitobius hilli Carter is transferred to Platydema Laporte & Brulle, and Meneristes dentipes Carter, M. lobatus Carter and M. quadratus Carter are transferred to Zophophilus Fairmaire. New generic records for Australia include: Leiochrinus Westwood, Myrmechixenus Latreille, Phaleria Latreille, Salax Guerin-Mtneville, and Tyrtaeus Champion. The genera Cymbeba Pascoe, Luprops Hope, and Thesilea Haag-Rutenberg, previously recorded from Australia, do not occur there. The genus Melytra Pascoe is transferred from Tenebrionidae to Zopheridae, and Eucistela Carter is transferred from Tenebrionidae (Alleculidae) to Pythidae.

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