The Royal Entomological Society Book of British Insects

BIT DISSAPIONTED THAT THERE WERE NOT MORE ILLUSTRATIONS, BUT THE DESCRIPTIONS ARE VERY GOOD

A very good book for the amature entomologist.

This is a good book for anyone seeking to gain a comprehensive overview of British insects to family level, as a basis for progressing to a serious study of selected groups. It is not intended to be an identification guide in itself but is an aid to gaining the level of skills and knowledge needed to make use of specialist identification guides.I do not think it suitable for anyone with a merely casual interest in insects because it requires a lot of effort to get to grips with the content sufficiently to be able to apply it meaningfully, and the profusion of scientific names can be a real strain on one's memory.Nevertheless It can be interesting to dip into out of curiosity and find things you never knew existed, often with fascinating lifestyles.The images are informative and the text very readable, it is the enormity of the subject matter that is difficult to cope with!Despite the difficulties I am glad I own it, and I have occasionally got near enough to an identification of a specimen to be able to search the web and find out what the species name is.

This is a magnificent volume. Every family of the vast number of British insects is identified. There are detailed descriptions, clear photos (many taken by the author) and it's couched in plain English. This is a book for the specialist entomologist or for the amateur enthusiast. It bridges the gap between pure scholarship and general interest. If you want to take your study any further there is a comprehensive bibliography with the relative merits of many of the sources given a mention.

Very informative reference book with lots of suggestions for further study. I am still reading through but I am sure I will be referring to it for years to come.

Disappointing - also very cheap paper. Information obviously good but just not a detailed as I was hoping.

Bought as a gift and the recipient has several times commented how useful it is.

Move over James Bond this is real life. Video the interview video the Atos medical video your mates its all good honest fun.Even the dogs left at home for a hour or two. Its good to see what they're up to when your not at home!! LOL