Blow flies
The Blow flies RES Handbook covers all British species of three families: Calliphoridae, Polleniidae and Rhiniidae.
The keys are unusual, and rely heavily on high quality colour photographs throughout. Where possible they use characters that do not require special preparation. Drawings and stacked photographs illustrate important characters. In addition the guide reviews those British flies that are similar to blow flies. Also included are foreign species that might arrive in the future. Overall this new guide will appeal to both enthusiasts and professionals.
Blow flies are of ecological, medical and veterinary importance. They pollinate plants and help decompose organic matter. In forensic science they help solve crimes. The mix of species, and their stage of development, provide clues to the circumstances around suspicious deaths. But on the other hand, some species can infest live animals and spread disease.
The author established the Calliphoridae Recording Scheme in 2015. Within the last 10 years there has been a growing interest in flies among the general public. But until now there was no up-to-date and accessible guide to blow flies. Many species are common in gardens and other human-made habitats. Social media and iRecord have transformed public awareness.
Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects is a series of books produced by the Royal Entomological Society (RES). The Handbooks provide identification keys to the insects of Britain, along with concise morphological, biological and distributional information. All books contain line drawings. The most recent also feature colour photographs. RES Handbooks are suitable for experienced users. Many out-of-print Handbooks are now available for free download from the RES.
