| Series | Field Studies Council AIDGAP Guides |
| Author | Stephen Docker |
| Language | English |
| ISBN | 9781917154178 |
| Publisher | Field Studies Council Publications |
| Pages | 8 |
| Format | Foldable map |
| Images | Colour images and illustrations |
| Year published | 2025 |
Distinctive terrestrial beetles AIDGAP is a handy reference guide for naturalists and enthusiasts.
- Straightforward flow chart to identify distinctive beetle families
- Also features annotated photos of 21 distinctive beetle species
- Designed for identifying living beetles in the field: lightweight, shower-proof and rucksack-sized
In Britain and Ireland there are roughly 4,000 beetle species within 103 families. Globally about one in every three insects is a beetle, with around 400,000 species currently known and many more yet to be discovered. Their extraordinary diversity in form, behaviour and ecology makes them fascinating to study and observe. But the sheer variety can be daunting for beginners.
To make beetle identification more accessible, the latest addition to the Field Studies Council’s extensive AIDGAP series is Distinctive Terrestrial Beetles of Britain and Ireland. Practical and visually appealing, the guide focuses on beetle species that you are most likely to see. It features concise written information, high-quality photographs and detailed drawings.
The guide includes photographs of 21 species for speedy picture matching and a simple flow chart identification key made up of yes/no questions. Following these leads users to 23 distinctive beetle group illustrations, each accompanied by supporting notes. These illustrations were carefully redrawn from the seminal 1932 work of coleopterist Norman Humbert Joy. For those seeking further detail, the guide also signposts a range of additional identification resources.
This guide is part of Field Studies Council’s AIDGAP series (Aids to Identification in Difficult Groups of Animals and Plants). Our AIDGAP guides are accessible identification keys, suitable for non-specialists from age 16+. As with all guides in the series, the Distinctive terrestrial beetles AIDGAP underwent extensive testing before publication, by beginners and specialists alike.
