WildguidesUK Shieldbugs and Squashbugs of the British Isles
Reviews
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Date of last review
1
1296
Fri 11, July, 2008
Recommended By
Average Purchase Price
100% of reviewers
£14.95
Quality
Value
Performance
9.00
9.00
9.00
Description:
The aim of this book is to help readers identify the 43 species of Shieldbugs and Squashbugs found in Great Britain and hopefully increase interest in this fascinating group of insects. Each species has two pages devoted to it with photographs, identification features and life histories for each. Adults are photographed side by side for quick identification. Sections deal with the anatomy, life history, over-wintering strategy, food plants and habitat needs of these insects, and many are shown in their various instar and larval stages. The life history table at the back of the book is an instant reference to the month-by-month life of each species, including food plants and habitat requirements.
Information on distribution is included, but in truth, for some species, the precise range is not well known. Through a hoped-for fascination developing amongst readers, it is hoped more will become seekers and observers of these bugs and will be able to fill in the gaps of our knowledge such that a more accurate picture may evolve for future editions. Readers are welcome to pass on any information not covered by the book to this web site for future inclusion.
Registered: July 2006 Location: Back in Nawf Kent, innit Posts: 288
Review Date: Fri 11, July, 2008
Would you recommend it? Yes |
Total Spent: £14.95| Rating: 9
Strengths:
Comprehensive, small enough for field use
Weaknesses:
Some photographs are not great quality
If you're interested in shieldbugs, this book is pretty much essential. The bulk of the book is the species accounts, with a page of text and between two and four photos of each species. This is my only gripe with the book as some of the photos are a little soft and grainy due to the enlargement/production process. They are all quite usable though.
The text covers ID features, period of activity, habitat, distribution, ID of the larvae and similar species. Larvae of most species are illustrated, although not all. This is very useful, at least for me. The book also has an introduction to shieldbugs and Hemiptera in general, shieldbug anatomy, thumbnail photo ID keys, a glossary, references and index.
With the minor caveat about a couple of the photos, this book is indispensable if, like me, you find these bugs fascinating but sometimes quite painful to ID. Recommended.
