Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland

• Description

Illustrations by Richard Lewington
Describes and illustrates all of Britain's 38 resident and 11 migrant species (2nd edition includes the Small Red-eyed Damselfly and Green Darnier). The species descriptions cover major identifying characteristics and comparisons with similar species; status and conservation; and ecology and behaviour with descriptions of habitat, larval form and behaviour, emergence, feeding, territorial and mating behaviours and egg-laying preferences. The illustrations show both males and females with diagnostic features such as segment markings or head patterns, wingspan and length measurements etc, and all resident species accounts are also accompanied by a distribution map and a chart indicating the flight season. The guide also includes a comprehensive introduction to dragonflies (with sections on the fossil record, world perspective, biology, flight, life history, distribution, habitats and dragonflies and the law), information on creating ponds for dragonflies, field study and practical conservation, and a list of the best places to watch dragonflies throughout Britain and Ireland. The second edition has been fully revised.