THE INSECTS OF IRELAND: AN ILLUSTRATED INTRODUCTION TO IRELAND’S COMMON INSECT GROUPS

This attractively produced book is designed as a first guide to Irish insects. An introductory section covers the insects, their importance and how to find and encourage them, with short descriptions of the 21 orders found in Ireland. Some 128 species are then described and illustrated as adults and in some instances larvae, with notes on status, habitats, seasons and key identification characters; the distribution of each species is indicated on a vice-county map. This main part of the book covers all species except vagrants of seven insect groups - butterflies, dragonflies, ladybirds, bumblebees, shield bugs, grasshoppers and earwigs. If you are interested in studying one or more of these groups this book has something for you. If, however, you wish to get to grips with other common insect groups with greater species representation such as moths, flies, and most of the bees and wasps you will need to look elsewhere. 

Book reviewed by Graham Geen