Introduction to Bioluminescent Beetles

An illuminating guide to the most common bioluminescent beetle in Europe, the glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca. This book is an excellent introduction to the biology of lampyrid beetles for anyone interested in these fascinating creatures, from keen amateur entomologist to research scientist.
The life of this beetle is treated in great detail covering all life stages, including feeding, defense, bioluminescent behaviour, distribution, habitat, conservation and a comprehensive list of references pertaining to the European glow-worm. Throughout the book the text is complemented by excellent colour photographs taken by the author.

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BIOLUMINESCENCE: CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES AND METHODS by Osamu Shimomura
World Scientific Publishing, 2006, 470 pp.

This book is written by the respected scientist and Nobel Prize winner Professor Osamu Shimomura. Each chapter is devoted to a particular bioluminescent organism or group of organisms and those creatures covered include fireflies, bacteria, crustacea, jellyfish, coelenterazines, mollusca, annelida, dinoflagellates and luminous fungi. These are all systems where the bioluminescent mechanism is either pretty much understood or is well on the way to being established. Prof. Shimomura provides an in depth and very reliable study of all these systems. Although much of the text is of a biochemical or physical chemical nature it is written in such a way as to be comprehensible by scientists from other disciplines – not an easy achievement! The clear text is supplimented with key figures and tables as well as a number nice colour photogrThis is an enjoyable read and a very good starting point for any undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate wishing to understand the mechanisms behind luminescent organisms.

An extensive reference list is provided as well as a useful taxonomic classification list of luminous organisms.

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AGLOW IN THE DARK: THE REVOLUTIONARY SCIENCE OF BIOFLUORESCENCE by Sylvia Nasar, Vincent Pieribone & David F. Gruber
Harvard University Press, 2006,

This is an intriguing book beautifully illustrated in which the authors transport us through the last century when some of the mysteries surrounding bioluminescence were solved. This is less of a detailed survey of the science and more a historical record of the events surrounding our current knowledge of bioluminescence.
This is a successful marriage of word and pictures presenting an original collection of tales about the scientists and experiments that have given us everything from green fluorescent protein to beetle luciferase. After years spent trawling through the literature it is nice, for once, to put faces to these eminent names!

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WEBSITES

The glow-worm survey website: A website run by Robin Scagell which provides information on the European glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca in Britain. Robin has for many years collated the public glow-worm records for Britain - please refer to his site for details about submitting your findings.

The Bioluminescence Web Page: A good solid overview of bioluminescent systems with clear illustrations of marine and terrestrial luminescent organisms.

Other books of interest

FURTHER READING