Britain's Hoverflies: a Field Guide

With an established reputation for their accessibility, ease of use and authoritative text, the WILDGuides have become the benchmark for photographic field guides. That a new edition of Britain’s Hoverflies has appeared less than two years after its original publication underlines both the success of the book and the fast-moving nature of hoverfly taxonomy.

With an extra 16 pages, the new edition sees the book fully revised and updated, the most fundamental change being the addition of a simple guide to the most commonly photographed hoverfly species. Other changes reflect recent taxonomic updates; for example, we see the genus Arctophila, which includes large species mimicking bumblebees, moved to become part of the genus Sericomyia. Two species new to the British list get a mention for the first time, though not full accounts; it is worth noting that the book was never intended to cover every species found in Britain, just those likely to be encountered. This approach delivers a book that remains readily accessible, covering 167 out of the 283 species, and which does not deter those beginners developing their interest in hoverfly identification and recording.

The species accounts are succinct but informative, providing sections on identification, observation tips and similar species, and each is supported by photographs that illustrate both the flies and the key features that enable identification.  These features are highlighted by comments, enabling you to pick out the important features at a glance. This is a very good book and the best of what is proving to be an excellent series of field guides.

Book reviewed by Mike Toms