La 4e de couverture indique: "Europe's Dragonflies is a comprehensive, lavishly illustrated and beautifully designed photographic field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Europe. Written by two well-travelled experts, the book covers all 140 resident and vagrant species recorded, focussing on the field identification of adult insects. Concise species profiles highlight key identification features and provide information on behaviour, habitat preferences, distribution, flight periods, status and conservation. Other sections cover identification tips, conservation status and legislation. Presenting an unsurpassed selection of images of the highest quality, this is the go-to guide for anyone wishing to know more about these amazing and fascinating insects."
A fully revised, comprehensive photographic field guide to the dragonflies of Britain and Ireland Britain’s Dragonflies is the only comprehensive photographic field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Written by two of Britain’s foremost Dragonfly experts, this fully revised and updated fourth edition features hundreds of stunning images and identification charts covering all 57 resident, migrant and former breeding species, and six potential vagrants. The book focuses on the identification of both adults and larvae, highlighting the key features. Detailed species profiles provide concise information on identification, distribution, flight periods, behaviour, habitat, status and conservation. Other sections cover biology; how to watch, photograph, record and monitor Dragonflies; conservation status and legislation; and introduced exotic species. This redesigned, updated and expanded edition features: Beautiful colour plates showing males, females, immatures and all colour forms for every species Over 500 stunning photographs, many of which are new, and more than 550 illustrations Up-to-date species profiles and distribution maps Detailed, easy-to-use identification charts for adults and larvae
An indispensable guide to Great Britain and Ireland's resident and migrant dragonfly and damselfly species. Whizzing over water with metallic bodies and often iridescent wings, dragonflies and damselflies are arguably one of our most overlooked and beautiful insects. This practical guide will help you to distinguish between skimmers and darters, with fascinating species accounts and insect-watching tips. To aid quick and accurate identification, the book also contains more than 280 stunning paintings by renowned artist, Richard Lewington. The 2002 edition was shortlisted for the BP Natural World Book Prize. This updated edition has been fully revised and redesigned to feature full descriptions, ecological notes and distribution maps, as well as a general introduction and regional guide to the best places to watch dragonflies.
A revised and thoroughly updated edition of the definitive guide to identifying dragonflies in Europe. The first edition of the Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe was a ground-breaking identification guide that led to an increase in Odonata recording across Europe. The second edition includes fully revised regional guides and identification texts, updated distribution maps and conservation statuses, illustrated accounts for five species that have been discovered in the region since the first edition, updated checklists and taxonomy, and new photographs throughout, as well as an introduction to larvae identification. Each species is lavishly illustrated with artworks of males, females and variations, as well as close-ups of important characters.
Dragonflies and damselflies are some of the most beautiful, fragile and resilient insects found in the natural world. With their complex behaviours, astonishing aerobatic skills and preference for freshwater habitats, they are a very rewarding group of animals to observe in the field. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Britain and Western Europe features all 98 species found in the region. Packed with outstanding photography, this comprehensive book includes close-up illustrations to highlight key identification features, diagrams of wing venation, and detailed guides to dragonfly larvae and exuviae. Each species account includes an accurate distribution map and information on field characteristics, confusion species, habitat and ecology. An introduction to the life cycle of Odonata, guidance on when and where to look for them, and the best ways to observe and photograph dragonflies and damselflies in the field are also included. These sections, combined with the identification guides, make this book the ultimate resource for any field naturalist or entomologist interested in these incredible insects.
A new and improved edition of the popular photographic field guide Britain’s Butterflies is a comprehensive and beautifully designed photographic field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Containing hundreds of stunning colour photographs, this extensively revised and updated new edition provides the latest information on every species ever recorded. It covers in detail the identification of all 59 butterfly species that breed regularly, as well as four former breeders, 10 rare migrants and one species of unknown status. The easy-to-use format will enable butterfly watchers—beginners or experts—to identify any species they encounter. Produced in association with Butterfly Conservation, this edition features new introductory sections to the main "types" of butterflies; updated distribution maps; a revised species order reflecting the latest taxonomy; revised sections on recording and monitoring, and conservation and legislation; and a new section on climate change. Stunning colour plates show typical views of each butterfly species, including the various forms and common aberrations Detailed species profiles provide information on status and distribution, including up-to-date maps, and cover adult identification; behaviour; breeding habitat requirements; population and conservation; egg, caterpillar and chrysalis; and caterpillar foodplants Photographs of the egg, caterpillar and chrysalis for every breeding species Sections on biology, where to look for and how to identify butterflies, and other essential information
• First title in Stackpole Books' new Wild Guide series • A complete, expert introduction to the world of dragonflies and also covers damselflies • Detailed color drawings of different species and behaviors Dazzling in appearance, idiosyncratic in behavior, dragonflies and damselflies have long captured the imaginations of nature lovers. In this illustrated natural history guide, Cynthia Berger takes the reader on a whirlwind trip through the lives of these intriguing insects, from their birth underwater (where they actually spend most of their lives as ferocious nymphs) to their miraculous transformation into free-flying adults. Features a field guide to the most common North American species--including life-size silhouettes for easy identification--as well as tips for observing dragonflies in the wild and attracting them to your backyard.
The go-to photographic guide to Britain and Ireland’s insects Britain’s Insects is an innovative, up-to-date, carefully designed and beautifully illustrated field guide to Britain and Ireland's twenty-five insect orders, concentrating on popular groups and species that can be identified in the field. Featuring superb photographs of live insects, the guide covers the key aspects of identification and provides information on status, distribution, seasonality, habitat, food plants and behaviour. It also offers insight into the life history of the various insect groups, many of which are truly amazing. This is the go-to guide for entomologists, naturalists, gardeners, wildlife photographers and anyone else interested in insects, whatever their level of knowledge. More than 2,600 stunning photographs, carefully selected to show key identification features Photo guides to every insect order, covering 316 families and almost 850 genera Covers 1,653 species, of which 1,476 are illustrated Designed to allow easy, accurate comparison of similar species Up-to-date distribution maps and charts summarizing adult seasonality QR codes that link to sound recordings of grasshoppers and crickets Information on photographing and recording insects to help conservation
A lavishly illustrated introduction to the world's dragonflies and damselflies Dragonflies and damselflies are often called birdwatchers’ insects. Large, brightly colored, active in the daytime, and displaying complex and interesting behaviors, they have existed since the days of the dinosaurs, and they continue to flourish. Their ancestors were the biggest insects ever, and they still impress us with their size, the largest bigger than a small hummingbird. There are more than 6,000 odonate species known at present, and you need only visit any wetland on a warm summer day to be enthralled by their stunning colors and fascinating behavior. In this lavishly illustrated natural history, leading dragonfly expert Dennis Paulson offers a comprehensive, accessible, and appealing introduction to the world’s dragonflies and damselflies. The book highlights the impressive skills and abilities of dragonflies and damselflies—superb fliers that can glide, hover, cruise, and capture prey on the wing. It also describes their arsenal of tactics to avoid predators, and their amazing sex life, including dazzling courtship displays, aerial mating, sperm displacement, mate guarding, and male mimicry. Dragonflies and Damselflies includes profiles of more than fifty of the most interesting and beautiful species from around the world. Learn about the Great Cascade Damsel, which breeds only at waterfalls, the mesmerizing flight of Blue-winged Helicopters, and how the larva of the Common Sanddragon can burrow into sand as efficiently as a mole. Combining expert text and excellent color photographs, this is a must-have guide to these remarkable insects. A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive, and accessible natural history that reveals the beauty and diversity of one of the world’s oldest and most popular insect groups Offers a complete guide to the evolution, life cycles, biology, anatomy, behavior, and habitats of dragonflies and damselflies Introduces the 39 families of dragonflies and damselflies through exemplary species accounts Features tips on field observation and lab research, and information on threats and conservation
A simple yet detailed guide suitable both for beginners and more expert readers who wish to improve their knowledge of the order Odonata. This book encompasses images and photographs of all the European specieshaving a stable population with chapters about their anatomy, biology, behaviour, distribution range and period of flight, plus basic information about the vagrants with only a few sightings reported. On the whole, 143 reported species and over 600 photographs are included. Una guida semplice ma dettagliata adatta sia ai principianti che ai lettori più esperti che vogliono migliorare la loro conoscenza dell’ordine Odonata. Questo libro comprende immagini e fotografie di tutte le specie europee con una popolazione stabile, capitoli sulla loro anatomia, la biologia, il comportamento, la distribuzione e il periodo di volo, oltre a informazioni basilari riguardo individui, di specie vaganti, di cui sono riportati soltanto pochi avvistamenti. Nel complesso, sono incluse 143 specie e oltre 600 fotografie.