Ladybirds

Helen Roy completed her PhD (on the ecology of ladybirds, Pandora neoaphidis (fungal insect pathogen) and other aphid natural enemies) at Rothamsted Research (linked with Nottingham University) in 1997. She combined research with teaching for 10 years before taking up a position (research scientist) with the Biological Records Centre (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) where she is responsible for zoological data and research and works extensively with national zoological schemes and societies. Her research focuses on the effects of environmental change on insect populations and communities.Peter Brown is a senior lecturer in the Department of Animal & Environmental Biology at Anglia Ruskin University. His research focuses on understanding the spread distribution of the invasive harlequin species of ladybird, both in the UK and worldwide. Peter monitors the effects of the harlequin’s spread on our native ladybird species and is involved in genetic work to detect predation of ladybirds and other prey by the harlequin.Richard Comont joined the Bumblebee Conservation Trust as Science Manager in 2013 after six years at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, mainly spent monitoring and analysing ladybirds.Remy Poland is a biology teacher at Clifton College, Bristol. Her research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of ladybirds. Current interests include the ecological impacts of the invasive 'harlequin ladybird', Harmonia axyridis, on British aphidophagous insects, particularly native coccinellids, through the processes of resource competition and intraguild predation.

A lovely book and if I had it when I was six I would have burst with joy! It's all you need as a thorough introduction to the UK's Ladybirds and all you need to identify them. It's got ecology, behaviour, evolution and physiology alongside a great ID guide and up-to-date distribution maps. Once again the Pelagic team produce an invaluable treatise which fills the gaps for serious naturalists. And schoolboys with a fascination for brightly coloured beetles!

• 1. Introduction 2. Life history 3. Ladybirds in their environment  4. Ladybirds and their natural enemies  5. Variation in ladybirds 6. Population and evolutionary biology 7. Ladybird distribution 8. Identification of British ladybirds I: Field key to adult British ladybirds II: Key to all the adult British Coccinellidae III: Field key to the larvae of British ladybirds 9. Study techniques and materials  References  Index