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Adult Caddis (Trichoptera) of Britain and Ireland is a photo-based identification guide for naturalists and enthusiasts, including moth-trappers. There are approximately 200 species of caddis in Britain and Ireland. A good range of species occurs in even the most mundane habitats such as suburban gardens. Adult caddis are common and sometimes abundant in light traps and around freshwaters.
Nevertheless, many naturalists ignore these insects. Unfortunately, caddis have a reputation for being difficult to identify. Many keys require examination of the wing venation and genitalia of dead specimens. And unlike moths and butterflies, there are no identification guides where comparison with pictures of whole insects is the norm. It frustrates many recorders that they cannot easily name many conspicuous caddis.
This new guide aims to solve this problem. It uses the visual appearance of the whole living insect. Where possible, it takes the identification of adult caddis in Britain and Ireland to species. To begin with an initial visual key places a caddis into one of four major groups. After that similar-looking caddis are arranged into sub-groups and sections. Both wing markings and genitalia can be examined on living specimens. All you need is a ×10 hand lens.
As well as keys, the guide includes species accounts with photographs and text. Each account covers flight period, distribution and diagnostic characters. Additionally, there is guidance on techniques for collecting adult caddis, as well as making records and voucher specimens.
For more information about choosing and using a hand lens, check out the NHBS Guide to Hand Lenses on our blog.
"[...] The authors have clearly applied enormous effort and attention to detail in the production of this guide and, overall, it should achieve its aim of improving accessibility to this difficult group [...]"
– Allan Drewitt, Atropos 72, 2023
