Grasshoppers and Allied Insects of Great Britain & Ireland

The number of species of grasshoppers and crickets and their close relatives (cockroaches, earwigs and stick-insects) in the British Isles is only fifty-two, of which fourteen are aliens. It is therefore an ideal group for close study by the amateur naturalist, for much remains to be discovered of the life history and behaviour as well as the distribution of many species, even some of the commonest.

The comprehensive Introduction, with contributions by specialist authors, includes chapters on nomenclature and classification; the history of the study of Orthoptera; distribution and history of the British species (D. R. Ragge); life history; song and courtship; predators, parasites and diseases; locating and collecting; rearing and culturing; sound recording (]. F. Burton); and photography (R. & C. Ford). There is also a useful glossary. The Systematic Section contains a check list of species mentioned in the text, a comprehensive key to and details ofthe description, song, life-history and behaviour, habitat, distribution (together with a vice-county map) and status of each species, and an account of casuals and migrants.

The remaining parts of the book give special emphasis to types of habitat (with colour plates) and the vital importance of their conservation, and include the dot-distribution maps based on records supplied to the Biological Record Centre, Monks Wood, by contributors to the Orthoptera Recording Scheme. Five appendices provide practical information: charts of offshore island and vice-county records (which can be added to by the user); details of outstanding sites; a list of several hundred localities cited in the work giving their grid references and vice-county numbers; and a list of Welsh, Scottish and Irish native language names of orthopteroid species. Extensive references to the literature and an index to English and scientific names complete the text. An addendum to this edition contains recent records.

The superb colour plates by Denys Ovenden figure all the resident species (and also the migrants), highlighting sex and colour variations and other diagnostic features; his excellent line-drawings enhance the text and representative silhouettes adorn the cover.

Author: Marshall & Haes
Publisher: Harley Books
Extra Details: Pictorial Card Covers 8 x 10 inches tall.254 Pages. Illustrated with colour photos and plates, line drawings and maps.