This book is a revised edition of the first of three volumes in the Handbook of Zoology series which treats the systematics and biology of Coleoptera.

The book further tackles the adult and larval behavior; the development and life-cycles; and the cytology and genetics. The text also looks into water beetles; special habitats; predation and defence; and symbiotic and parasitic relations.

The effort to establish and describe this collection began as early as 1889, when the Smithsonian hired its first coleopterist (who was also only the second salaried entomologist at the Institution).

This book first reviews the biology of Dytiscidae or water beetles, including life history and ecology.