Take a look through our recommended resources.

An entomologists own selection of illustrated identification aids for insects. These free to view dichotomous keys are designed for use on screen.

Grasshoppers and Related Insects Recording Scheme of Britain and Ireland. The scheme was launched in 1968 with the support of the Biological Records Centre (BRC), to collect records of grasshoppers and related species, and map and study their distributions.

 There are over 4000 species of beetle found in Britain, Ireland and surrounding islands. This website allows you to find out more about these fascinating insects, and provides a gateway for you to submit and manage your beetle records.

This is a guide to the genera or groups of weevils of Britain and Ireland. A collection of downloadable documents that were part of an FSC Biodiversity project.

The original Royal Entomological Society Handbook for the identification of British Insects Vol 5 Part 3. Adults and Larvae of Hide, Larder and Carpet Beetles and their Relatives (Dermestidae) and of Derodontid Beetles (Derodontidae) 

The Dipterists Forum was established in 1993.  The society aims to promote the study, recording and conservation of true flies (Diptera).  A collection of resources as well as recording and mapping data of flies in the UK.

An AIDGAP key to identify adult flies to their family. Though a publication from 1981, this document contains line drawings with key identifying parts for the diptera families.

 A photographic field guide to 1,500 species of insects found in Britain and Ireland.  Insect groups dealt with include butterflies and moths, mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, crickets, earwigs, lacewings, bugs, bees, wasps, ants and beetles, all with keys to ensure accurate identification. 

 Britain’s Insects is an innovative, up-to-date, carefully designed and beautifully illustrated field guide to Britain and Ireland’s twenty-five insect orders, concentrating on popular groups and species that can be identified in the field 

 A comprehensive introduction to bee classification, ecology, field techniques and recording, a full glossary, and information on how to separate the sexes and distinguish bees from other insects. 

Covers the biology and ecology of all 61 species occurring in Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Includes extensively illustrated keys and distribution maps. Also offers an account of exotic species that may turn up in heated buildings.

A general introduction is provided to the natural history and external morphology for the following families of the Vespoidea: Tiphiidae, Mutillidae, Sapygidae, Scoliidae and Vespidae including the subfamilies Eumeninae, Polistinae and Vespinae.

Keys to the families, genera and species, together with diagnostic illustrations, are provided.

 The Grasshoppers guide features 50 species of grasshoppers, crickets, bush crickets, ground hoppers, cockroaches, earwigs and stick insects.

Colour illustrations of each species are grouped to help you distinguish between similar-looking species. On the reverse side there’s a full identification key to living adults, designed for use in the field

Bugs AIDGAP covers the families of adults of bugs in Britain and Ireland.

Identification taken to family level

Illustrated with line drawings throughout

 This illustrated guide enables specialists and non-specialists to distinguish the major pests of durable stored products found throughout the world.

It describes how to identify each pest group or species and summarises the latest information on their biology, ecology, geographical distribution, the damage they cause and their economic importance.

 The Carabidae (ground beetles) are a cosmopolitan family, with an estimated 40,000 species worldwide.

The prime purpose of this book is to enable the reliable identification of the adults of the 350 species of Carabids that occur in Britain and Ireland. Fully illustrated keys to subfamilies, tribes, genera and species are provided. 

 Illustrated field guide covers all 47 species of ladybird occurring in the British Isles in a handy and easy-to-use format. Twenty-seven species are colourful and conspicuous and easily recognised as ladybirds; the remaining species are more challenging, but the clear illustrations and up-to-date text in this guide will help to break down the identification barriers. 

Includes brief but comprehensive field descriptions of all the macro-moths in Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Featuring more than 1,700 superbly detailed colour artworks and covering nearly 900 species, this portable guide is an essential addition to every moth-lover's field kit. 

This is a complete guide to all the micro-moth families found in Great Britain and Ireland, including the Channel Islands. Species descriptions include field characters, similar species, flight season, habitat, larval foodplants, status and distribution. The introduction covers identifying, studying and finding micro-moths, including field techniques.