Ichneumonid wasps
The Ichneumonid wasps RES Handbook features identification keys for the identification of the 35 subfamilies of Ichneumonidae occuring in Britain and Ireland.
There is also a comprehensive review of current knowledge on the systematics, biology and host relations of each subfamily. Colour photographs of all tribes of ichneumonid wasps are included. The authors have set out useful recognition features and references to the most relevant species-level identification literature.
Ichneumonids abound. The hymenopteran family Ichneumonidae comprises one of the largest single animal families. With around 2500 British species, almost 10% of British insect species are ichneumonids. They occur almost anywhere. Studying ichneumonid wasps is very rewarding, but it is not without its difficulties. There is little accesible literature. There has been no summary of the identification of British ichenumonids since Morley (1903-15). Those volumes are now very out-of-date. So with the current Handbook, the authors hope to plug the gap. In particular, a lack of knowledge has contributed to a relatively low level of conservation effort towards parasitoid wasps.
Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects is a series of books produced by the Royal Entomological Society (RES). Each Handbook provides illustrated identification keys to the insects of Britain, together with concise morphological, biological and distributional information. Accordingly all books contain line drawings, and the most recent volumes feature colour photographs. The RES Handbooks are suitable for experienced users. The series also includes several Check Lists of British Insects. Field Studies Council has published RES Handbooks for many years. Many out-of-print Handbooks are now available for free download from the RES.
RES Handbook vol 7 part 12
