Identification References List:

Accurate data relies heavily on accurate determinations of an organisms identity being made. Unfortunately, many of the populist books of today are based around graphic images, paintings and photographs, and whilst many species can be identified by matching appearances there are many times more species that need to be examined carefully, often with a microscope, and keyed out using relevant identification keys.

Below is a list of accessible, available and useful books and keys presented by taxonomic group. These should help if you are getting into a particular group or need to identify particular species.

Good luck !

RECORD - Reference Books and Keys - Suggestions:

RECORD recognises the necessity for good, accurate, up to date, and relevant keys and books to aid in the identification of species of plants and animals (flora and fauna) found whilst one is undertaking biological recording in the Cheshire region. As an aid to obtaining the required information, RECORD hereby gives a short guide to books which we feel may be useful to the recorder. Some of the suggestions are technical works for the more expert whilst some are aimed more at the beginner or tyro. We sincerely hope they aid you in making correct and accurate determinations:

Higher Plants:

· Field Flora of the British Isles, by: Clive Stace, Pub. by:Cambridge University Press 1999
· The Wild Flower Key - British Isles - N.W. Europe, by: Francis Rose, Pub. by: Warne 1981
· A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe, by: Alan Mitchell, Pub. by: Collins 1974

Non-Flowering Plants:

· The Liverworts of Britain & Ireland, by: A.J.E. Smith, Pub. by: Cambridge University Press 1990
· British Mosses and Liverworts (3rd Ed.), by: E.V. Watson, Pub. by: Cambridge University Press 1988
· Handbook of European Sphagna, by: Natural Environment Research Council, Pub. by: HMSO 1990
· The Ferns of Britain and Ireland, by: C.N. Page, Pub. by: Cambridge University Press 1982
· Lichens - An Illustrated Guide to the British and Irish Species, by: Frank S. Dobson, Pub. by: The Richmond Publishing Company 1992
· The Book of Seaweed, by: Alan Major, Pub. by: Gordon and Cremonesi 1977

Larger Fungi:

· Field Guide to Mushrooms & Toadstools of Britain & Europe, by: R. Courtecuisse & B. Duhem, Pub. by: Collins 1995

Micro-Fungi:

· Microfungi On Land Plants - An Identification Handbook, by: Martin B. Ellis & J. Pamela Ellis, Pub. by: The Richmond Publishing Co. 1997

Galls:

· British Plant Galls - Identification of galls on plants and fungi - by: Margaret Redfern, Peter Shirley and Michael Bloxham - an AIDGAP Key, Pub. by: Field Studies Council - 2003 - available from the Field Studies Council web-site at: www.field-studies-council.org
· The Pocket Encyclopaedia of Plant Galls, by: Arnold Darlington, Pub. by: Blandford Press 1975
· Provisional Keys to British Plant Galls, Edited by: F.B. Stubbs, Pub. by: British Plant Gall Society 1989
· Plant Galls, by: Margaret Redfern & R.R. Askew, Pub. by: Richmond Publishing Co. 1992 (Naturalists’ Handbooks 17)

Insects:

• Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths):

· Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe, by: Michael Chinery, Pub. by: Collins 1986
· Colour Identification Guide to Butterflies of the British Isles, by: T.G. Howarth, Pub. by: Viking Press 1984
· Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles, by: Bernard Skinner, Pub. by: Viking Press 1986
· Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles, by: Jim Porter, Pub. by: Viking Press 1997
· A Complete Guide to British Butterflies, by: Margaret Brooks and Charles Knight, Pub. by: Jonathan Cape 1982
· A Complete Guide to British Moths, by: Margaret Brooks, Pub. by: Jonathan Cape 1991

· Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Edited by E.M.Emmett, Pub. by: Harley Books

• Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies):

· A Complete Guide to British Dragonflies, by: Andrew McGeeney, Pub. by: Jonathan Cape 1986
· The Dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland, by: Cyril O. Hammond, Pub. by: Harley Books 1985

• Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and Allied Insects):

· Grasshoppers and Allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland, by: Judith A. Marshall & E.C.M. Haes, Pub. by: Harley Books 1988

• Diptera (True Flies):

· Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) - (Dipterists Digest No.9), by: Graham E. Rotheray, Pub. by: Derek Whiteley, Sheffield 1993
· British Hoverflies - An Illustrated Identification Guide, by: Alan E. Stubbs, Pub. by: British Entomological & Natural History Society 1983
· The Sciomyzidae (Diptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark - (Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica Vol. 14) - by: R. Rozkosny, Pub. by: E.J. Brill 1984 - these are snail-killing flies. (All of this series is in English)
· The Stratiomyioidea (Diptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark - (Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica Vol. 1) - by: R. Rozkosny, Pub. by: Scandinavian Science Press Ltd 1973 - these are soldier flies. (All of this series is in English)

• Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, Ants, Ichneumons (and other parasitic hymenoptera) and Sawflies):

· The Sphecidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark - (Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica Vol. 4 (2nd edition)), by: O. Lomholdt, Pub. by: E.J. Brill 1984 - Solitary wasps. (All of this series is in English)

• Coleoptera (Beetles):

· Longhorn Beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of Fennoscandia and Denmark - (Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica Vol. 22, by: S. Bily & O. Mehl, Pub. by: E.J. Brill 1989. (All of this series is in English)
· The Carabidae (Coleoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark - (Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica Vol. 15 (Parts 1 & 2)), by: Carl H. Lindroth, Pub. by: E.J. Brill 1985 - Ground Beetles. (All of this series is in English)

• Heteroptera (Bugs):

· Land and Water Bugs of the British Isles, by: Southwood and Leston, which has been long out of print. The old Warne volumes have been difficult to obtain for some time and the price has rocketed. However things have recently changed. Pisces Conservation have just released the volume on CD - see over at www.pisces-conservation.com/ and follow the software links. This seems to be an excellent chance for those who fancy ’getting into bugs’ and a great deal for the recording of bugs across the country. The price is £18 plus £2 post and packing.

Other Invertebrates:

Arachnids (Spiders, Harvestmen & Pseudoscorpions):

· The Country Life Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe, by: Dick Jines, Pub. by: Country Life Books 1983
· Collins Field Guide to Spiders of Britain & Northern Europe, by: Michael J. Roberts, Pub. by: Collins 1995
· Pseudoscorpions - Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) No. 40, by: Gerald Legg and Richard E. Jones, Pub. by: E.J. Brill for the The Linnean Society 1988

Molluscs (Snails and Slugs):

· A Field Guide to the Land Snails of Britain and North-west Europe, by: M.P. Kerney & R.A.D. Cameron, Pub. by: Collins 1979

Crustacea:

· British Freshwater Crustacea Malacostraca - A Key with Ecological Notes, by: T. Gledhill, D.W. Sutcliffe and W.D. Williams, Pub. by: Freshwater Biological Association 1993

Non-Invertebrates:

Mammals:

· A Field Guide to the Mammals of Britain and Europe, by: F.H. Van Den Brink, Pub. by: Collins 1973

Birds:

· A Field Guide to the Seabirds of Britain and the World, by: Gerald S. Tuck & Hermann Heinzel, Pub. by: Collins 1978

Reptiles:

· A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe, by: E.N. Arnold & J.A. Burton, Pub. by: Collins 1978

Amphibians:

· A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe, by: E.N. Arnold & J.A. Burton, Pub. by: Collins 1978

Fish:

· British Freshwater Fishes, by: Len Cacutt, Pub. by: Croom Helm 1979
· Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of Britain and North-western Europe, by: Bent J. Muus & Preben Dahlstrom, Pub. by: Collins 1981

If anyone can suggest further, good identification material for any of the above groups, or for any groups missing from the above list, we would love to hear from you and will incorporate your suggestions where possible. Many thanks.