RES Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects – serie

The hymenopteran family Ichneumonidae comprises one of the largest single animal families. With around 2,300 British species, almost 10% of British insect species are ichneumonids. They can be found everywhere and studying them is very rewarding, but it is not without its difficulties. This book provides an extensively illustrated key for the identification of the 35 subfamilies of Ichneumonidae known to occur in Britain and Ireland (plus Brachycyrtinae, not yet found here). This is supported by chapters for each subfamily giving a comprehensive review of current knowledge on systematics, biology and host relations together with notes on useful recognition features and references to the most relevant species-level identification literature concerning the British Isles. Included in each British and Irish subfamily account is a folio of photographs covering all recognised tribes.

Knowledge of insect movement, particularly of flight, is crucial to our understanding of the great ecological and evolutionary success of insects. The last 20 years have seen many advances in this subject area. New fields have arisen, such as metapopulation theory, and dramatic developments have taken place in methods of studying movement, as a result of new techniques in molecular biology and radar monitoring. There have also been advances in our knowledge of flight-related physiology and behaviour. This book, which is based on the main papers presented at the Royal Entomological Society's 20th Symposium held in September 1999, brings us up to date with these developments. It contains chapters on: - flight mechanisms - foraging movements - migration - the evolution of movement strategies - the interactions between dispersal rates, population structure and gene flow - the effects of climate change on geographical distribution It is essential reading for entomologists, and of interest to those researching animal behaviour, physiology, ecology and genetics.

Insects provide excellent model systems for understanding evolutionary ecology. They are abundant, small, and relatively easy to rear, and these traits facilitate both field and laboratory experiments. This book has been developed from the Royal Entomological Society's 22nd international symposium, held in Reading in 2003. Topics include speciation and adaptation; life history, phenotype plasticity and genetics; sexual selection and reproductive biology; insect-plant interactions; insect-natural enemy interactions; and social insects.

An identification key is provided for the adults of British Tachinidae (Diptera). A summary of the biology and distribution of each species is given, including a list of British host records. The natural history of the family is reviewed briefly, with emphasis placed on the reproductive strategies and interactions with the host. A check list includes all old generic and specific names used in the British literature since 1928.

An introduction is given to weevils of the subfamilies Raymondionyminae to Smicronychinae, designated as part of the 'true weevils' (family Curculionidae). Difficulties occasioned by the fluid state of the higher classification of the Curculionoidea are outlined. Summaries are given of the biology, life-history and phenology, economic importance, distribution and conservation of the species covered. A checklist os species is included. Illustrated keys are provided to subfamilies of British Curculionoidae, and to the species covered in this handbook. The entry for each species includes characters for distinguishing the sexes and information on biology, larval foodplants, distribution within the British Isles and zoogeographic range. Those species with 'Red Data Book' status are indicated.

The Carabidae (ground beetles) are a cosmopolitan family, with an estimated 40,000 species worldwide. The prime purpose of this book is to enable the reliable identification of the adults of the 350 species of Carabids that occur in Britain and Ireland. Fully illustrated keys to subfamilies, tribes, genera and species are provided. Notes are provided for each species to enable the user to confirm (or otherwise) identification.

With over 55,000 species described worldwide and over 1,000 of these recorded in Britain and Ireland, the Staphylinidae represent one of the most species rich families in the animal kingdom. This book is the first of a series of identification keys incorporating recent advances in the taxonomy of Staphylinidae into simple, easy-to-use keys. Illustrated keys are provided for the identification of the subfamilies of British Staphylinidae, with three subfamilies, Scaphidiinae, Piestinae and Oxytelinae, which form the Oxyteline group, being covered in full in this volume.

With over 55,000 species described worldwide and over 1,000 of these recorded in Britain and Ireland, the Staphylinidae represent one of the most species rich families in the animal kingdom. Illustrated keys are provided for the identification of the subfamilies of British Staphylinidae. Five subfamilies, Oxyporinae, Steninae, Euaesthetinae, Pseudopsinae, Paederinae, Staphylininae are covered in full in this volume.

The Macrosiphini are the predominant group of aphids on herbaceous plants in Britain, and the world. There are 305 British species and subspecies, comprising 49% of the 620 Aphididae on the British list. They include many important pest species, some of which are highly polyphagous, but there are also very many more species feeding more-or-less specifically on indigenous and naturalised plants and playing a significant role in natural food chains. This Handbook provides a checklist and a list of native host plants, along with keys to tribes, genera and species. Biological information is provided about each species.

Illustrated keys are provided for the families, genera, species and other taxa of British and Irish Hydradephaga. The Hydradephaga comprise the Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, Paelobiidae (also known as Hygrobiidae) and the Dytiscidae. Colour plates are provided of all the species. Notes include characters for distinguishing the sexes, some basic information on biology and collecting methods, and reviews of distributions in Ireland and Britain, including the Channel Isles.

The caddisflies are a cosmopolitan group of insects whose aquatic larvae are perhaps better known than their moth-like adults. There are currently 199 species known from the British Isles, out of a total of around 1400 species in Europe and over 12,000 worldwide. Although close study of the genitalia is often necessary for species identification, much progress can be made with easily observed characters such as wing patterns. This handbook contains some formal keys as well as numerous illustrations of both living and preserved specimens to aid the newcomer to this group.

Illustrated keys are provided for the families, genera, species and other taxa of British and Irish members of the superfamily Hydrophiloidea (Coleoptera suborder Polyphaga). The Hydrophiloidea comprise the families Helophoridae, Georissidae, Hydrochidae, Spercheidae, and the Hydrophilidae. Most of these beetles are aquatic and this book is the second part of the Handbook series concerning water beetles. However, this work includes terrestrial Helophorus and many species in the subfamily Sphaeridiinae of the Hydrophilidae. Notes include characters for distinguishing the sexes, basic information on biology and collecting methods, and reviews of distributions in Ireland and in Britain, including the Channel Isles. A key to all families of aquatic beetles is appended.

A general introduction is provided to the natural history and external morphology for the following families of the Vespoidea: Tiphiidae, Mutillidae, Sapygidae, Scoliidae and Vespidae including the subfamilies Eumeninae, Polistinae and Vespinae. A checklist is given for the 45 species that have been recorded from the British Isles. Keys to the families, genera and species, together with diagnostic illustrations, are provided. Notes are given on the preparation of specimens for identification. Species profiles include information on British and overseas distribution, habitats, adult activity period, nesting characteristics, prey, host records and flowers visited.

This book covers the 138 British species in the subfamily Banchinae. It is based on a full taxonomic revision, including reference to the accessible type specimens. The classificatory procedure used here is predominantly 'utilitarian' in nature, since the primary objective is to render identification of banchine ichneumonids as simple as possible. Keys are given to all species - and those for Glypta, Lissonota, Cryptopimpla and Exetastes incorporate a full revisionary treatment. The creation of species groups has been necessary in the two very large genera Glypta and Lissonota - in particular, within the large subgenus Campocineta in Lissonota. A general introduction, species accounts and an account of all verified host relationships are also provided. Ten new species are described.

An introduction is provided to the present state of knowledge of beetle families and their larvae in the British Isles and relevant larval identification literature. Summaries are given of general larval morphology; specialised biological aspects such as hypermetamorphosis and parasitism; habitats and behaviour as aids to identification, especially of those species in which adults and larvae occupy totally different habitats and in which one or other stage is much more commonly encountered; pest species and biological control; and collecting, preservation and rearing. Illustrated keys are provided to distinguish beetle larvae from those belonging to other insect orders, and to families of Coleoptera larvae. Colour photographs of beetle larvae representing many of the families discussed, and using specimens from the van Emden collection, are provided.

The Blow flies RES Handbook is an identification guide to the British species of the three families Calliphoridae, Polleniidae and Rhiniidae, collectively known as the blow flies. Using high quality diagnostic photographs throughout, the Handbook has been created to satisfy the need for an up-to-date identification tool for both enthusiast and professional entomologists. Blow flies are widely distributed and diverse. Many species are seasonal. Biological recorders should be able to find a good list within their local area. But these flies are also of ecological, medical and veterinary interest. As well as pollinating plants and helping to decompose organic matter, they can also spread disease. Egg laying on living animals, particularly livestock, causes myiasis, sometimes leading to death if not treated early enough. In addition, blow flies are an essential tool of forensic entomology. The presence of different species and their stage of development assists in reconstructing the circumstances around suspicious deaths. Hatching time, larval development and pupation are all highly dependent on temperature. The rate of development also varies between species. The author established the Calliphoridae Recording Scheme in 2015. Following taxonomic changes at the family level this has since become the Calliphoridae, Rhiniidae and Polleniidae Recording Scheme. Until recently all three families were part of the Calliphoridae.

This handbook covers the British species of the subfamily Mycetophilinae of the family Mycetophilidae, commonly known as the fungus gnats. Most fungus gnats are found in forests and other wooded habitats, as might be expected since the larval development of many species is dependent on saproxylic or mycorrhizal fungi. Fungus gnats may be found throughout the year, their relative abundance affected by prevailing weather conditions and the consequent effect on the availability of fungus hosts.