Posted by Elliott Neep on June 16, 2006 at 5:02 AM
I have been doing a lot of macro work on my local patch and have had some trouble identifying the little blighters (especially grubs and caterpillars). I would really appreciate a few pointers regarding reference books and websites that could help. I have also created a 'constantly updated' web page of the subjects that I am clueless on!
http://www.enwp.co.uk/gallery/id
So its not all one-way traffic, here are my reference websites:
For beetles & bugs:
http://www.coleopterist.org.uk
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/lady/
http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/photoindex.htm
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/wildlife/insects_contents.html
My reference books are somewhat limited so would love your feedback on some good purchases. This is my only reference book:
Collins Field Guide - Insects of Britain & Northern Europe by Chinery
Collins Pocket Guide - Insects of Britain & Western Europe by Chinery is a much better buy, out of print now tho i think, try sh bookshops / internet
Insect ID is always a problem, last week i photographed a Mirid Bug, a Shieldbug and some sort of Robberfly...but alas am having trouble identifying them
Field guides to insects are quite specialised so tend to be expensive, i just bought one specifically on hoverflies from Amazon it cost me £30!..my advise is to try your local library, alternatively your local wildlife trust or natural history society
British Wildlife Publishing offer some good field guides especially the one on moths with is superb and costs about £28, they also do a good one on Dragonflies and butterflies
WILDGuides also offer some good field guides on dragonflies and butterflies
Collins used to do a good field guide on caterpillers..try a used book search on the internet to find this one as it's now oop
The forums at http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk are very active and well supported by knowledgeable coves!
There's a new photo guide on shieldbugs and squash bugs - not to hand here for full details, but a google should find it. More specialised keys are available for many of the invertebrate groups but most need a binocular microscope and lots of time and patience too. The matching volume on soldierflies by the publishers of the hoverfly book is excellent if pricey.
Discussion
3 replieshttp://www.enwp.co.uk/gallery/id
So its not all one-way traffic, here are my reference websites:
For butterflies & moths:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/cockayne
http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/index.php
http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/photoindlep.htm
http://butterflywebsite.com/
http://ukmoths.org.uk/
http://www3.islandtelecom.com/~oehlkew/catanim.htm
http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/
http://www.habitas.org.uk/moths/
For beetles & bugs:
http://www.coleopterist.org.uk
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/lady/
http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/photoindex.htm
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/wildlife/insects_contents.html
My reference books are somewhat limited so would love your feedback on some good purchases. This is my only reference book:
Collins Field Guide - Insects of Britain & Northern Europe by Chinery
Insect ID is always a problem, last week i photographed a Mirid Bug, a Shieldbug and some sort of Robberfly...but alas am having trouble identifying them
Field guides to insects are quite specialised so tend to be expensive, i just bought one specifically on hoverflies from Amazon it cost me £30!..my advise is to try your local library, alternatively your local wildlife trust or natural history society
British Wildlife Publishing offer some good field guides especially the one on moths with is superb and costs about £28, they also do a good one on Dragonflies and butterflies
WILDGuides also offer some good field guides on dragonflies and butterflies
Collins used to do a good field guide on caterpillers..try a used book search on the internet to find this one as it's now oop
Hope this helps
Regards Barrie
There's a new photo guide on shieldbugs and squash bugs - not to hand here for full details, but a google should find it. More specialised keys are available for many of the invertebrate groups but most need a binocular microscope and lots of time and patience too. The matching volume on soldierflies by the publishers of the hoverfly book is excellent if pricey.