Britain's Insects (WILDGuides): A Field Guide to the Insects of Great Britain and Ireland (WILDGuides, 23)

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According to Fox the prime driver for the declines is likely to be habitat loss and more intensive agriculture, including chemical farming, but other important factors include climate change and, possibly, increased nitrogen deposition and light pollution. He said: “Fumes from vehicles, particularly diesel engines, have been shown to mask the scent from flowers making them undetectable by pollinators. A reduction in traffic will have meant that flowers will have been more attractive to pollinators, boosting not only wildflower populations, but also those of their pollinators.

For each species described though there is a species distribution map, a seasonality chart and a description of size, morphology, and habitat. Where known and relevant food plants are given as well as their conservation status and protection. Importantly, similar species to those included are given - many folks are keen to ID without careful attention and this highlights the need to exhibit caution with species level identifications. I like having the images next to the text . . . . A fabulous photographic guide for both beginners and 'experts' and a complete bargain. ---Erica McAlister, Bulletin of the Dipterists Forum It certainly is a very useful tool, and it has an excellent index. . . . All things to all people; it is crammed with snippets of information: life cycles, descriptions, maps, definitions, status, distribution, seasonality, habitat, food plants, behaviour, etc."—Mike Smith, Phasmid Study GroupA major study this month by the charity Butterfly Conservation showed that the numbers of large moths in Britain have fallen by a third in the last 50 years due to factors including habitat loss, light pollution and climate change. Some species have declined by as much as 80 per cent, prompting the charity to warn that the diminution poses a wider risk to British wildlife with moths acting as important pollinators, in particular for species such as orchids, as well as a food source. This, the latest in the WILDGuides series, is a masterful exercise in clarity, clear design and will get you to the right identification of the species you are looking at. . . . A great achievement. ---Mark Avery, Mark Avery blog Wild Guides have come out with another gem. This time, there are 1,653 insects for you to enjoy with 1,476 illustrated in full colour. lt covers dragonflies, butterflies, moths, bees, beetles and wasps with everything in between. . . . There is even a section on helping you take photos of the species found, hoping that you will be able to match the incredible photos in this book."—John Miles, Birdwatching Magazine This book has immediately winged its way onto my ' absolute favourites' book list. It's the only one I will need to take with me on holidays and insect-spotting trips and ganders in the countryside. It really is a superb book, and I must say, a tremendous achievement. Heartily recommended! ---Amanda Williams, Buzz About Bees

Britain's Orchids: A Field Guide to the Orchids of Great Britain and Ireland Sean Cole and Mike Waller Europe's Dragonflies: A field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies Dave Smallshire and Andy Swash

A game-changer of a book, a truly significant contribution to the study of our insects . . . . Anyone interested in insects will find Britain's Insects of value. ---Dr S G Compton, Biologist A most wonderful book and must surely help to raise awareness towards protecting this precious insect biodiversity. * Bees for Development * Britain’s Hoverflies is a beautifully illustrated photographic field guide to the hoverflies of Great Britain and Ireland, focusing on the species that can be most readily identified. It is the perfect companion for wildlife... When you think of British bugs, you probably imagine the humble ladybird or the friendly bumble bee. Some of us might immediately think of the not-so-fearsome house spider or the spindly daddy long legs with his long, wispy limbs. What a lot of people don’t realise is that the UK is host to a whole range of exciting and interesting insects and invertebrate hiding right under our feet! We’ve put together a list of some interesting and unusual British bugs to demonstrate how diverse these creatures can be. The Lobster Moth is an interesting addition to this list because the moth itself is particularly interesting - while being significantly fluffier than a standard house moth, its mottled grey form isn’t going to catch anyone’s eye. The caterpillar, however, is probably the most unusual bug you’re likely to come across in the UK. With a round, alien-like head, a large ‘tail’ and long legs, it looks very similar to the crustacean from which it gets its name. As it matures, it develops “bumps” along its body and darkens, resembling a dead leaf, which makes it quite hard to spot in the wild. These unusual creatures are found all over Europe but in the UK are mostly found in Southern woodlands.

Plant a wide range of plants too, with a mix of native and non-native, evergreen and deciduous. Here are five inspirational wildlife-friendly plantsto get started. Craig Macadam, conservation director at insect protection group Buglife, said factors such as improved air and water quality are likely to have had a significant beneficial effect. A masterpiece field guide 'tome'. . . . A 'must have' for everyone with a general interest in insects and I'm sure it will sneak into the libraries of quite a few seasoned experts too! ---Jim Almond, Shropshire Birder blog In this beautifully illustrated introductory guide, Jens Petersen shows how to successfully identify and forage for edible mushrooms, and then how to prepare them for the table to ensure a delicious culinary experience, even if you're a... The discovery during the pandemic of the bug, which can affect the quality of fruit crops and spoil wine made from grapes where it is prevalent, is a further example of the ability of invasive species to spread rapidly from just a small number of individuals.

Britain's Habitats: A Field Guide to the Wildlife Habitats of Great Britain and Ireland - Fully Revised and Updated Second Edition Sophie Lake, Durwyn Liley, In the face of this mixture of ecological woes, it is perhaps not surprising that insects in Britain are faring so badly. Whether or not they face an ecological apocalypse is a different matter, for not every expert shares a sense of doom. Professor Helen Roy of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, for example, sees cause for hope. She told the Observer that there were too many success stories – tales of insects that were recovering in numbers and thriving – to feel a sense of despair. “Obviously, many species are suffering, but I am an optimist and I just don’t think it is right to call this an apocalypse,” she said. But perhaps the most alarming indication of the ecological apocalypse we face was provided a few months ago by researchers who published a startling paper in the journal Plos One. Their work was based on the efforts of dozens of amateur entomologists in Germany who began employing strictly standardised ways of collecting insects in 1989. They used special tents called malaise traps to capture thousands of samples of insects in flight over dozens of different nature reserves. Falk, S. (1992). A Review of the Scarce and Threatened Flies of Great Britain (Part 1). NCC, Peterborough. Beyond the realm of historic soft furnishings and museum display cabinets, insect life has had to deal with changes in human behaviour both positive and negative – ranging from the drop in environmental disturbance and pollution caused by millions of Britons working from home to a pause in routine monitoring and the continuation of habitat loss and practices which have already had a devastating effect on pollinators from bees to moths.