I wish to thank first Alberto Vasquez, of Free Union, Virginia. Very shortly after I began photographing diminutive creatures in 1984, Alberto took me under his wing and mentored me in my quest to learn more about insects. Beetles are Albertos favorite group, and his enthusiasm for the Order soon spread to me. My many tramps through the Albemarle County woods with Alberto form some of my fondest memories.
Other Beetle experts have provided me an enormous amount of help over the years. One of these is Donald S. Chandler, curator and professor at the University of New Hampshire. Others generous entomologists who have helped so much include Thomas H. Atkinson, Stephanie A. Dole, Dennis Haines, Phillip J. Harpootlian, Ted C. MacRae, Chris Majka, Charles W. O’Brien, Stewart Peck, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Andrew Short, Michael C. Thomas, Douglas Yanega, and Daniel K. Young.
Eric R. Eaton has undoubtedly helped me a thousand times over the last five years. Though busy for much of that time writing the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, he was never too busy to answer a request for help.
In developing the species pages I have mined a number of scholarly articles old and new, and these are listed in the Works Consulted page for Beetles.
Above all, I want to thank my many friends and colleagues at the Bugguide.net website, who help with IDs, provide stimulating conversation about hexapods, and mutual support. Many of these friends are listed in the overall Acknowledgments page for the Insects of West Virginia site.