This is the first comprehensive photographic guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of Britain and Ireland, covering 44 breeding, 3 extinct, 10 vagrant and 6 potential vagrant species.

Its innovative, easy-to-use format aims to help dragonfly-watchers identify any species they encounter, whether they be a beginner or an expert.

The 64 remarkable full colour photographic plates show all you need to identify the adults. They have been produced using the latest digital image technology. There are also sections on larval identification, biology, habitats, recording and conservation.

The text covers the key identification features of each species during the egg, larval and adult stages, emphasising the differences between similar species, and includes information on behaviour, breeding habitat, population and conservation.

Colour distribution maps utilising the latest available data and charts showing flight period accompany the text for each species.