[John In Ireland]

I have just started an interest in British Butterflies and Moths. Could anyone point me in the direction of a good reference book on either, butterflies, moths or both. (preferably both) with distribution mapping.

[Tri-Counties Birder]

The best moth book is this (I'm sure you can find it cheaper somewhere):

http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Mo...2445235&sr=8-1

It does not have distribution maps, but it gives a decent description of range within the text, including specific references to Ireland.

[speckled wood]

South's British Moths 1 & 2, and South's British Butterflies have served me well over 35 years, as for distribution maps they can quickly become outdated, so in my view looking online is now the best option for up to date distibution information. A good book to look for is the 1970s update of South's British Butterflies by T G Howarth, excellent pictures although the distribution maps are 35 years out of date.

[Surreybirder]

I hate to disagree but I don't think that South is a patch on Waring and Townsend.
Chris Manley's "British moths and butterflies' is also good but no maps and not all the micros are shown.
I have Tolman and Lewington's 'Butterflies of Europe' which is excellent but possibly not quite what you are looking for!
Ken

[Geoff Brown]

Originally Posted by Tri-Counties Birder

The best moth book is this (I'm sure you can find it cheaper somewhere):

http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Mo...2445235&sr=8-1

It does not have distribution maps, but it gives a decent description of range within the text, including specific references to Ireland.

I agree it is the best moth book but I am sure I did not pay anything like the price now being quoted. Perhaps you can put the title in Google and find a slightly used copy with one of the specialist remaindering book stores.

[Allen S. Moore]

Originally Posted by John In Ireland

I have just started an interest in British Butterflies and Moths. Could anyone point me in the direction of a good reference book on either, butterflies, moths or both. (preferably both) with distribution mapping.

Friends in the UK have a fine atlas of the butterflies of the British Isles - Ireland and the Isle of Man are there, as well as Britain and, if I remember correctly, the Channel Islands, too.

[mooskibaby]

When I first became interested in moths I was in the same boat as you, I wasn't sure what the best book was. I spoke to a number of people, and every time the same book was mentioned, the Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. This book can be bought on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Concise-Guid...3010377&sr=8-2

This book by Richard Lewington contains fantastic artwork, and each drawing is exactly to scale. "Each description begins with the common and scientific name of the species followed by abbreviated information on its status and distribution". The emphasis is on the key identification features and how the species compares with similar species.

I hope this helps.

[CornishExile]

Waring and Townsend is cheapest direct from British Wildlife Publishing - http://www.britishwildlife.com/viewbook.asp?bookid=5

(Incidentally, a British Wildlife's a fascinating bimonthly journal for those with a broad interest in general UK natural history and conservation. I thoroughly recommend it).

ce

[Imaginos]

Not a book but UK Moths is pretty indispensable.

[Swindon Addick]

For butterflies, it would be worth looking at the Wildguides book, which has pretty up to date range maps for each species. Should be available from specialist bookshops such as RSPB shops (WWT Slimbridge had a copy in yesterday!) if you want to flick through before purchase.

[Adam M]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Not a book but UK Moths is pretty indispensable.

In a similar way ukbutterflies.co.uk is great for UK butterflies (oddly enough). Includes life cycles so you know what is on the wing and when, as well as distribution maps accompanied with sites where they might be seen. For example, this is the brown hairstreak one http://ukbutterflies.co.uk/distribut...pecies=betulae

Adam

[Captain_of_Crunch]

http://www.nhbs.com/field_guide_to_t...no_184355.html




"This ground-breaking book is the most comprehensive field guide to micro-moths ever published and for the first time makes this fascinating and important group of insects accessible to the general naturalist. It describes all the families of micro-moth and covers 1033 species, with more than 1400 superbly detailed artworks and photographs. Also around 900 specially commissioned maps. Each species description includes field characters, similar species, flight season, habitat, larval foodplant, status and distribution. There is a general introduction to the subject, including field techniques for finding micro-moths and a series of innovative keys. There is also an introduction to dissection techniques, a comprehensive checklist of British and Irish species and a full index. A must for all those interested in moths, as well as naturalists and conservationists. "