Abstract

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.

"...quite excellent..."

Helen Roy completed her PhD (on the ecology of ladybirds, Pandora neoaphidis (fungal insect pathogen) and other aphid natural enemies) at Rothamsted Research (linked with Nottingham University) in 1997. She combined research with teaching for 10 years before taking up a position (research scientist) with the Biological Records Centre (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) where she is responsible for zoological data and research and works extensively with national zoological schemes and societies. Her research focuses on the effects of environmental change on insect populations and communities.

Peter Brown is a senior lecturer in the Department of Animal & Environmental Biology at Anglia Ruskin University. His research focuses on understanding the spread distribution of the invasive harlequin species of ladybird, both in the UK and worldwide. Peter monitors the effects of the harlequin’s spread on our native ladybird species and is involved in genetic work to detect predation of ladybirds and other prey by the harlequin.

Richard Comont joined the Bumblebee Conservation Trust as Science Manager in 2013 after six years at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, mainly spent monitoring and analysing ladybirds.

Remy Poland is a biology teacher at Clifton College, Bristol. Her research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of ladybirds. Current interests include the ecological impacts of the invasive 'harlequin ladybird', Harmonia axyridis, on British aphidophagous insects, particularly native coccinellids, through the processes of resource competition and intraguild predation.

It's pretty much the only book you'll ever need if you want to get into ladybirds. It covers everything from life history, evolutionary biology, population and more. It also has a key to help you identify and a section on how and where to collect ladybirds for recording. If you like ladybirds, you'll like this book!

It seems to me that no aspect of ladybird life has been neglected in this publication. This book is packed with fascinating information presented in a very readable form and I found it hard to put down. From the plagues of ladybirds occasionally reported in the press to chromosome numbers and male-killing parasitic bacteria such as Rickettsia and Wolbachia I found it all interesting stuff. Highly recommended for both the expert and casual reader interested in insects.