This publication supplements Wood & Bright's 1992 catalogue of the world's Scolytidae and Platypodidae (bark beetles), updating the taxonomy of these two families to nearly the end of 1995 and including all known literature references to the end of 1994 (plus references to articles missed in the earlier bibliography). References which provide new information on taxonomy, host plants, or biology of a species are also included. The format of the supplement closely follows that of the 1992 catalogue. Each genus & species is listed with its page number from that catalogue; additional information on figures, distribution, hosts, and references to other subject areas are given. The publication also includes lists of host plants, arranged by scientific name, and the beetles attacking them.

The published works are derived from the Zoological catalogue of Australia database. Taxa in the Australian fauna are divided among volumes to form sets of about 1800-2000 species available names, such that each volume comprises the whole or part of one or more major groups.