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Out now! My second RSPB Spotlight book, this time on ladybirds. Available from Amazon or elsewhere.
Brightly coloured and pleasingly pattered, ladybirds are among some of our most beloved and familiar invertebrates. Their role in helping to protect our crops by devouring huge numbers of pests has firmly established these tiny, flying beetles as the gardeners' friend.
Spotlight Ladybird focuses on the 26 species that are resident in the UK, from the widespread but unusual Orange Ladybird to the rare - and aptly named - Scarce 7-spot Ladybird. Ladybird expert, Richard Comont considers the conservation challenges facing these iconic species, whose populations are now at risk thanks to the threat posed by one of their own, the invasive alien Harlequin Ladybird. And he covers all aspects of ladybirds' biology, from tiny larvae emerging from their oval eggs to large aggregations that converge at specific sites around the world. Richard also examines the natural history and cultural significance of this fascinating group of beetles, from Ladybird Books to Thor.
The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photos and informative expert text.
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During 2017 and 18 I was part of the editing teams for two books: Pisces Publications' 'The Nature of the Malverns' and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's first book, 'Bumblebees: an introduction'. Both were released in spring 2018, and seem to have gone down well!.
The Nature of the Malverns is a comprehensive, highly-illustrated account of the natural history of the Malvern Hills and surrounding commons, a distinctive 14km range of granite hills which rear out of the Severn valley, on the border between Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Covering species as diverse as Goblin's-Gold moss, Garden Tiger moths, and Barbastelle bats, all profits from the book support management of the Hills for nature.
Bumblebees: an introduction is a highly-illustrated guide to the identification and ecology of all Britain's bumblebees, written for a general audience. It was the first book published by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Britain's only national charity dedicated to the monitoring and conservation of these charismatic insects.
Bumblebees are some of our most familiar insects, and are among the few that are almost universally viewed as 'friendly' - their low buzzing is the quintessential sound of our gardens in the summertime.
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Bumblebees: an introduction is a highly-illustrated guide to the identification and ecology of all Britain's bumblebees, written for a general audience. It was the first book published by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Britain's only national charity dedicated to the monitoring and conservation of these charismatic insects.
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A natural history of bumblebees, the RSPB Spotlight 'Bumblebees' was published on the 23rd March 2017. Available from Amazon, or all good bookshops
Bumblebees are some of our most familiar insects, and are among the few that are almost universally viewed as 'friendly' - their low buzzing is the quintessential sound of our gardens in the summertime.
Spotlight Bumblebees considers all 24 UK bumblebee species, examining what made the group so successful and how circumstances have led to the survival of some species but the precipitous decline of the majority, highlighting the dangers we all face if populations continue to plummet. Separate chapters cover all aspects of bumblebees' biology and lifestyles, from spring queens emerging from dark overwintering chambers to establish their nests, to the drone swarms that herald the end of the bumblebee season.
Bumblebees around the world are studied, including in the southern hemisphere where Europe's declining species can become harmful invaders. The influence of bumblebees throughout our history and their place in our culture, from Shakespeare to Transformers, is also examined.
Fully revised and updated, the second edition of the Naturalists' Handbook of Ladybirds, available from Amazon or beyond.
This revised and updated edition of Ladybirds provides a succinct but comprehensive and accessible overview of the biology of ladybirds and their parasites, focusing on ecology in an evolutionary context. It provides the latest information, coverage of recent additions to the British list including the harlequin ladybird, and makes suggestions for further research, both short and long term, highlighting gaps in knowledge and showing readers how to get involved with recording and studying ladybirds. It includes updated keys for the identification of ladybirds at late-instar larval and adult stages, and techniques for studying ladybirds and their parasites in both laboratory and field.
The authors hope that this book will be a valuable resource, not only for students, from school to university and beyond, but also for anyone with an interest in natural history, whether professional or recreational.