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

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The pandemic is thought to have had a dramatic effect on one particularly unwelcome insect highly reliant on the pre-March 2020 normality of frequent international travel. Pest control companies across the western world, including the UK, reported a dramatic drop during the pandemic in calls to deal with bed bug infestations as hotel and flight bookings plummeted. This is a delightful if demanding book, a major work in fact. . . . Britain's Insects will surely become an essential and everyday guide for entomologists, naturalists, gardeners, wildlife photographers and anyone else interested in insects, whatever their level of knowledge. Britain's Insects upholds the superb presentation and finish we have come to expect from the WildGuides series. ---Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog Roy pointed to explosions in the number of ladybirds and painted lady butterflies that have occurred in the past as evidence. “There are huge variations in numbers of a particular insect species in a year and huge variation in the places you see them.” She also pointed to one study of pollinators that showed while 32% became less widespread between 1980 and 2014, 16% became more widespread. “It is not all doom and gloom,” Roy added. 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.

This lavishly illustrated photographic guide provides a comprehensive overview of the natural history of wildlife habitats in Britain and Ireland. Now completely redesigned in a handy field-guide format, and featuring revised and...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 Britain’s Mammals is a comprehensive and beautifully designed photographic field guide to all the mammals recorded in the wild in Great Britain and Ireland in recent times—including marine mammals, bats and introduced species that... A most wonderful book and must surely help to raise awareness towards protecting this precious insect biodiversity."— Bees for Development

Just an amazing book. . . . The most amazing, and probably best, photographic guide there is to Britain's insects. ---Kate MacRae, Wildlife Kate If you have an allotment or grow your own at home, chances are you will be providing lots of flowers for pollinators. Fruit tree blossom, fruit bushes, tomatoes, beans, courgettes and pumpkins all attract bees and other pollinating insects. Grow plenty of herbs too and let some of these flower. Try growing annual marigolds, phacelia and poppiesaround the edge of the kitchen garden to encourage insects such as hoverflies. Many hoverflies are beneficial as their larvae prey on aphids, which are common pests on many fruit and vegetables. The fact that insect biomass has been declining at a steady rate for almost three decades strongly suggests some profound influences must be at work. Most entomologists believe habitat change lies at the heart of the problem. “There have been massive alterations to the way we use the land and it is hard not to believe these are closely involved in what we are seeing,” said Leather. Britain's Mammals Updated Edition: A Field Guide to the Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland Dominic Couzens, Andy Swash,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. This detailed guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Britain, Ireland, and the Channel Islands has been produced, with the collaboration of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, with the aim of inspiring an increased level of... This is a delightful if demanding book, a major work in fact. . . . Britain's Insects will surely become an essential and everyday guide for entomologists, naturalists, gardeners, wildlife photographers and anyone else interested in insects, whatever their level of knowledge. Britain's Insects upholds the superb presentation and finish we have come to expect from the WildGuides series."—Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog 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

Must-have . . . impressive Britain’s Insects, which really will help you identify almost every insect you are ever likely to come across in the UK. One of the biggest problems I found when growing certain vegetables was the slugs eating all of my crop. As a proud organic gardener, I refused to use chemical repellant and only wanted a natural deterrent. We tried everything from paprika, thorns around the plant, beer traps, you name it. However, ground beetles actually love slugs and snails. They eat by vomiting on their prey and waiting for their digestive enzymes to make their food more fluid and easier to eat. Only very few ground beetles can actually fly, and their long legs and powerful mandibles allow them to be voracious predators. Even the larvae of this insect have pincer-like mandibles which allow it to eat soil-dwelling organisms. Flight Identification of European Passerines and Select Landbirds: An Illustrated and Photographic Guide Tomasz Cofta This guide is a marvellous book for both beginners and 'experts' and a complete bargain. ---Erica McAlister, Bulletin of the Amateur Entomological SocietyOf course, squashing bugs with your car isn’t a good thing, but this realisation - called The Windscreen Phenomenon (and, yes, that’s what entomologists call it) - is just one small indicator that Britain’s bugs are in trouble. In the UK, insects are currently struggling to survive (as are lots of animals, plants and birds) against increased urbanisation, use of stronger pesticides in farms and gardens and the ongoing effects of climate change. The State of Nature Report suggested a 59% decline in insects in the UK since the 70s, but how many of us noticed, and how many of us cared? According to Fox, positive developments for moths include the hope that post-Brexit financial support for farmers will be based around “ public money for public goods” which could incentivise more nature-friendly farming, and afforestation efforts as long as it is “the right tree in the right place”. Europe's Dragonflies: A field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies Dave Smallshire and Andy Swash