Books on insects?
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adampembs
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Books on insects?
Can anyone recommend a good field guide to the most common insects? Or perhaps a range of literature covering the different groups.
Adam Pollard
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Lancashire Lad
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Re: Books on insects?
Hi Adam,
Can't say that I have more than a passing interest in insects, so probably not the best person to take advice from - but I do have one book,
which is "A Field Guide to the Insects of Britain and Norther Europe" by Michael Chinery, published by Collins.
(Mine is the 1986 reprint, but I think it's been updated and revised since then).
I've found it to be quite good. It has colour illustrations and not photos, - but they are very good quality illustrations.
There's also a Collins book that's similar to the softback fungi guide (I think it's from the same series), called "Complete Guide to British Insects - A Photographic Guide to Every Common Species", also by Michael Chinery.
Should be pretty good if it's anything like the fungi guide.
Regards,
Mike.
Can't say that I have more than a passing interest in insects, so probably not the best person to take advice from - but I do have one book,
which is "A Field Guide to the Insects of Britain and Norther Europe" by Michael Chinery, published by Collins.
(Mine is the 1986 reprint, but I think it's been updated and revised since then).
I've found it to be quite good. It has colour illustrations and not photos, - but they are very good quality illustrations.
There's also a Collins book that's similar to the softback fungi guide (I think it's from the same series), called "Complete Guide to British Insects - A Photographic Guide to Every Common Species", also by Michael Chinery.
Should be pretty good if it's anything like the fungi guide.
Regards,
Mike.
Common sense is not so common.
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Simon Horsnall
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Re: Books on insects?
This is a bit like the "Can anyone recommend a good fungus guide" that pops up from time to time with many of the same caveats. However, Chinery's illustrated guide finds a place on my bookshelf and I have heard very good reports on Brock's photographic guide although I haven't used it myself. Both of these will probably see you through British butterflies, dragonflies and a good range of Orthoptera. Macro moths are usually well but not comprehensively covered. Other groups I find a genus or family identification may be possible. I am happy to recommend literature on specific groups if people are interested but the list could be rather long so if people want to suggest groups.
Finally, I will point out a free resource: https://www.royensoc.co.uk/out-print-handbooks
This is a list of out-of-print handbooks from the Royal Entomological Society and gives a flavour of some of the keys. Some have been superseded and some are monsters that a beginner would be put of entomology for life but some are rather excellent.
Finally, I will point out a free resource: https://www.royensoc.co.uk/out-print-handbooks
This is a list of out-of-print handbooks from the Royal Entomological Society and gives a flavour of some of the keys. Some have been superseded and some are monsters that a beginner would be put of entomology for life but some are rather excellent.