UK insect list

[Messiah Khan]

Does anyone know of any good insect identification type websites? Im really enjoying insect macro photography at the moment, and would like to start commenting my pictures with the insects' latin names. I'd also like to find out what insects we have in this country, and where to best look for them. any suggestions?

 

[CT]

I don't know of a definitive site, but there are loads out there. When I have an ID problem I usually Google with something like 'green beetle with red spots' searching just UK pages or ad 'UK' into the search. It's very rare I don't get a result.

 

[Messiah Khan]

Cheers CT. But ideally id like a comprehensive list of all insects in the uk, so I can fine out more about their habbitat and behaviour etc. Ive found a couple of sites so far, but they're not very detailed or more aimed at kids. Maybe I should look at geting a book instead.

 

[Messiah Khan]

This ones not too bad;

http://www.uksafari.com/creepycrawlies.htm

 

[CT]

I suspect the answer is there are possibly gazillions of different species and variations. The book sounds like a good idea.

 

[Messiah Khan]

Hehe, yeah I suspect there are far more species and variations than I can ever hope to photograph, but there must be some sort of comprehensive( or at least semi comprehensive) list somewhere. Looking closer at the link I posted, its not bad, but for example it only has two species of bee. Now I know there are loads of different bee species, and I noticed 4 different types in my garden this weekend.

 

[dod]

try here

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/insects/

 

[Messiah Khan]

Thanks for the dod. It seems like a good site and forum.

 

[pxl8]

WAB is a pretty good place for getting an ID but a word of warning - read the T&Cs at WAB before you upload any pictures. The site doesn't allow external linking of images so you have to upload to their gallery and it can be a nightmare getting images removed.

Another excellent site for ID of flies and midges is: www.diptera.info - some real experts hang out in there.

It's also worth remembering that a lot of flies can't be identified without looking at the specimen under a microscope.

 

[TomB]

Afraid I can't help on this one, but after my Zoology degree I can tell the difference between male and female Drosophila and mosquitos from about 5 yards away

 

[Messiah Khan]

Afraid I can't help on this one, but after my Zoology degree I can tell the difference between male and female Drosophila and mosquitos from about 5 yards away

Right, we'll you'll be my own persoanal creature identifier then.

 

[Messiah Khan]

Incase anyone is interested, I cam across the following site which seems very good for identification of.. well anything living really;

http://tolweb.org/Life_on_Earth/1

 

[Cobra]

here's one that breaks it all down

http://www.projects.ex.ac.uk/bugclub/bugid.html#a31