dispar

09 August 2024
© Andy Mitchell
Citation: Mitchell, A. (2024). A Review of: Pyralid and Crambid Moths of Britain and Ireland [Online]. Available from http://www.dispar.org/reference.php?id=192 [Accessed December 11, 2024].

A Review of: Pyralid and Crambid Moths of Britain and Ireland

Review by Andy Mitchell

by Mark Parsons and Sean Clancy, with Mark Tunmore (technical editor) and David Wilson (photographer).

From the Publisher

Pyralid and crambid moths are amongst the most studied and readily encountered moths in the British Isles, and include some very attractive species. Whilst many are restricted in distribution within the British Isles, others are ubiquitous; they also feature prominently in migration events and occur as imports. This work represents the first comprehensive review of these moths since 1986 and brings together a wealth of knowledge about identification, distribution, flight periods and life cycle. Despite all that is known, there is much to learn and the early stages of some species have not yet been found. We hope this book will encourage greater interest and a new generation of recorders to study these fascinating moths.

This new publication includes specimens and live photos, representing all the pyralid species to have occurred in Britain and Ireland, plus distribution maps. Critical species diagrams, genitalia plates and identification pointers also feature in this exciting new publication.

Product Details

Publisher: Atropos Publishing
Format: Hardback
Pages: 508

Contents Listing

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Taxonomy of the Pyralidae and Crambidae
How to use this guide
Morphology of pyralid and crambid moths
Finding pyralids and crambids
Conservation
Immigration
Additions to the British list
Further information sources
Bibliography
References and further reading
Checklist of the Pyralidae and Crambidae of Britain and Ireland

Species accounts

British species
Appendix 1: Adventives, not established
Appendix 2: Doubtfully British / Not British
Appendix 3: Intercepts
Addendum: Stop press

Species plates
Genitalia figures

Male
Female

Appendix 4: Foodplants
Appendix 5: Vernacular names

Index - Scientific names
Index - Vernacular names

A Review by Andy Mitchell - 9th August 2024

Put simply, what is not to like? Like many others, I have been using Barry Goater's British Pyralid Moths as a reference source for this complex and sometimes tricky group of families. So this new tome from Parsons and Clancy is a much anticipated and hugely welcome new guide to the British and Irish species.

The species accounts include a brief description, similar species, flight season, life cycle, larval foodplants, habitat, status and distribution. The images are first class, depicting every moth that has occurred in Britain and Ireland up to the point of publication - taken in the field where possible. Many accounts also include the larva and larval feeding damage, complemented with habitat shots, which add to the appeal when thumbing through the book.

Appendices provide descriptions of 'Adventives' which are not yet established, 'Doubtful' records and the inevitable 'Stop Press'. There are also Genetalia plates for tricky couplings and groups.

The one thing I would have liked are a couple of plates with the crambus and scoparia groups illustrated, to complement the key feature identification tables.

All in all, this is a fantastic moth guide book and a beautiful book at that. Readers will benefit when simply flicking though the book, when undertaking the next walk in chalk grassland or when opening the trap in the morning, all while immersing oneself in the finer points of a particular species and its identification. This book is, therefore, highly recommended.