Moth books

[Lee Hurrell]

Hi all,

I'd like to get a book on British moths along the lines of Tolman for Butterflies.

Is the Martin Townsend, Paul Waring, and Richard Lewington book the best one to get?

Thanks

Lee

[Susie]

I don't know about the best but I found it very useful when I was moffing.

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks Susie

[grumpy]

Hi Lee, I have it and find the illustrations very useful as they show the natural resting positions. Its also easy to use in the field when doing Moth Watches as it is spiral bound, better to hand round a group of people to illustrate a point.


cheers
Dave Clay (grumpy)

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks Grumpy!

[ChrisC]

hi Lee,
I agree with comments on the book mentioned, but be warned, this book only does what are known as the macro (larger )moths (approx 850 out of the 2,500 species) unfortunately there isn't one that does them all (i wish) but another nice reasonably priced book which includes some micros and butterflies is British Moths and Butterflies: A Photographic Guide by Chris Manley : contains almost 2,400 photographs of live insects from over 50 contributors including 850 macromoths, 500 micromoths, 74 butterflies and 314 larvae. so if you get the chance take a look at both and see which you prefer. I use them both.

Also not an exhaustive list but some of the websites i use

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/
http://www.ukleps.co.uk/
http://www.leafmines.co.uk/
http://www.ukleps.org/index.html (great for caterpillars)
http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk/moth_list.htm
good luck
Chris

[Lee Hurrell]

Thanks Chris, that's very helpful.

I knew the first two websites but not the rest. I'll investigate Chris Manley's book too!

Cheers

Lee

[Dave McCormick]

Is the Martin Townsend, Paul Waring, and Richard Lewington book the best one to get?

Yes, I would say so, the new revised one (2009) is the best one as it has revised information and new moths that were discovered in UK since the first one was released like Pattons Tiger or Palm Borer (Paysandisia archon) etc.., I have used it for identifying moths and it helps a lot. I have the Moths of Europe Vol 2: Geometrid Moths and for showing and describing variations of moths, these volumes are very good, can't wait for noctuid volume to be released, should be very good. Shows genetalia of similar species too

For micro moths you'd need various sources until the book that Richard Lewington is doing paintings from is complete.

Always having various sources to look from is very good as no one source will have all the information about a moth

Natural positions of moths are also better than set specimens as you can see what the moth looks like naturally which is how you'd see it in the wild or when you trap one which can significantly help to ID it.

[Lee Hurrell]

Brilliant, thanks for your help Dave.

Cheers

Lee