Insect book

[grahamhobbs]

Can anyone recommend a book on garden insects/creatures that is not just a pictorial encyclopeadia of every imaginable variation of British insects nor a childrens book of creepy crawlies.

I'm looking for a book that shows the full life cycle of all the most common insects found in the garden, what they eat at each stage, where they overwinter for instance, etc. etc.

[MKG]

Hard to find, I think, Graham.

Collins Complete British Insects - Michael Chinery - isn't bad, but is probably one of the pictorial encyclopaedia things you don't like. Apart from that, I tend to look around the net - there's a decent number of good bug sites around.

Mike

[Gem]

I agree with MKG. There are a wide range of ID guides available for these sort of critters but the best I have found is Complete British Insects which I use to confirm ID and then use research papers/my work library/google for further information.. It does have some gump in it about life cycles but not in the detail I imagine you are looking for.

Life cycle guides are more likely to be avaliable from places like the Royal Entomology Society but you would have to get individual mini books for id and life cycles for each order or family of insect.. basically a real pain and not worth it unless you are interested in going pro..

Alternatively if its pest you are interesting in ferreting out then this might be useful..

Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Garden Plants (Collins Photo Guides) by Stefan T. Buczacki. Gives a bit more gumph on the problematic insects you may find around the place.. (there may be better ones about but I like this one..)

Hope that helps

Gem

[grahamhobbs]

Gem, thanks for the lead, although recent prints are too costly (£60.99), although the 1981 copy is only a few pounds. Do you know if the 1981 print is any good?

[Gem]

I have always found old prints to be fine, just a little dated but not sure with this one I'm afraid. I would say, go for the old copy then resell it if its not what you are looking for..

Have a read through the reader reviews on amazon, that should give you a better idea of whether its what you are looking for.

Gem

[grahamhobbs]

Thanks Gem, I think I will take yor advice and give the old copy a try, I imagine 95% will be the same except perhaps the lack of glossy photos.