The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles

Bernard Skinner Illustrated by David Wilson

The essential guide for the British Moth enthusiast, this classic volume illustrates over 800 species of larger (macro) moths in full colour.

First published in 1984, this second edition was published in 1998. There is one extra plate featuring new species and variations, and several errors in the first edition are corrected (though some more have crept in). The text has been updated to reflect distribution changes etc, but otherwise is relatively unchanged.

There are 43 colour plates of set specimens, with some variable species having several examples showing variations or aberrations. The moths are pinned in traditional museum format, which is certainly useful when the underwings are an important identification feature.

The quality of illustrations is generally very good, but with so many species to illustrate, and the fact that all are life-size, means that some of the smaller, more difficult moths, in particular the pugs (Eupithecia spp.) are virtually impossible to identify from the photographs alone.

The text is necessarily brief for each moth species, but includes distribution, flight periods, larval foodplants and other information. Some similar species have identification tips and text figures to illustrate this.

There are no pictures of caterpillars, but there is a short text at the end of each species account describing the larval season and foodplants.

This book is an ideal companion to the Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland

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