Pocket Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Pocket Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Richard Lewington
SeriesBloomsbury Wildlife Guides
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:96
Dimensions(mm): Height 190,Width 116
Category/GenreInsects
ISBN/Barcode 9781472993595
ClassificationsDewey:595.799
Audience
General
Illustrations Colour artworks and maps

Publishing Details

Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint Bloomsbury Wildlife
NZ Release Date 2 May 2023
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

With contributions from Dave Goulson and Gill Perkins, founder and CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust respectively, this illustrated pocket guide is the ideal companion for anyone interested in the naturally occurring species of bumblebee that can be found in the British Isles. Thanks to their iconic furry jackets and low hum that embodies the sound of summer, bumblebees are some of the most charismatic and friendly insects you're likely to encounter in Britain. Presented in the same portable and accessible format as the Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Ireland by the same author, with a double-page spread dedicated to each species, this guide to bumblebees will appeal to both beginners and more experienced hymenopterists alike. It features stunning artwork by the world-renowned invertebrate artist Richard Lewington, covering the males and queens of all British true bumblebee and cuckoo bee species, alongside their common colour variations. The introduction includes a double-page spread of the 'big 7' species that are most likely to be encountered in gardens, and additional sections clearly explain how the reader can differentiate between the sexes and recognise true bumblebees from cuckoo bees. The 'at-a-glance' guide provides a quick reference to species grouped by tail colour. Identification can then be confirmed by following the reference page number to the appropriate species. Each species account includes a detailed description covering field characteristics, habitat and distribution, nest, flowers visited, parasites and similar species, and is accompanied by a seasonal flight chart and up-to-date distribution map. Species accounts are interspersed with spreads showing similar, confusion species, grouped together for direct comparison, and are followed by an illustrated section showing bumblebee mimics and lookalikes.

Author Biography

Richard Lewington is an acknowledged leader in the field of insect illustration. His meticulous paintings of wildlife are the mainstay of many of the modern classics of field-guide art, including The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland, Guide to Garden Wildlife and Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland. Richard has also designed and illustrated wildlife stamps for several countries. In 1999 he was awarded Butterfly Conservation's Marsh Award for the promotion of Lepidoptera conservation, and in 2010 the Zoological Society of London's Stamford Raffles Award for contribution to zoology.