SEA GOOSEBERRY

This ID chart features common insects of

Fold Britain and Ireland.

along the dotted lines to make a pocket-sized

guide to help you identify species when you’re out and about.

by The insects are arranged

up of orders, which are made

species. families of related

Alfred Schauhuber /

Durrell, Manfred Ruckszio, History, Frank Greenaway Alamy Stock Photo: Redmond Museum Natural

Steve Gorton / Oxford University London, Roger Key, Jerry Kindersley: Neil Fletcher, Natural Museum, Horazy,

London, Colin Keates / Franco, Henrikhl, Pawel

Natural History Museum,

Fotofred, Domiciano Pablo Shutterstock.com: alslutsky, Young; Dreamstime.com: Eric Issele;

Kindersley

Isselee, Roblan, All other

Kindersley Limited

Ihor Hvozdetskyi,

For further information

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Also known as the Azure Damselfly, this species has blue

brilliant and black males and

green and black females.

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LARGE RED DAMSELFLY

first This species is often the

spring. to be seen flying in the Damselflies rest horizontally

folded with their clear wings

together over their body.

COMMON FROGHOPPER

bug, This is a species of spittle

nymphs so-called because the

with (young) protect themselves

spit. a foam known as cuckoo

plants. lives on many different

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Together with sawflies, these insect groups make up the order Hymenoptera. Bees and ants are mostly social and

live in colonies.

GRASSHOPPERS & CRICKETS

form These two groups the order Orthoptera. They have large wings, but when

on tend to jump away their large hind legs.

rub Many adult males their wings or legs together to “sing”

to attract mates.

TRUE FLIES

These insects belong to the order Diptera. They have only a single pair of wings. Their hind wings have evolved into organs called halteres, which help with balance

during flight.

HONEY BEE

than Smaller and more slender

of bumble bees, this species

cavities honey bee nests in tree or artificial hives, providing

products. honey, wax, and other

MIGRANT HAWKER

largest Hawkers are among the

(shown dragonflies. The male

marks here) has bright blue

while with small white spots,

brown. females are yellow and

COMMON CRANEFLY

Firstfold:foldthesheetinhalfalongthisdottedline

TRUE BUGS

–

This diverse order Hemiptera – includes hoppers, aphids, and

all water bugs. They have a beaklike mouthpart for sucking

plant sap or prey.

BANDED MOSQUITO

It

For

MOLLUSCS

The diverse creatures in this section, which includes starfish and sponges, have little in common except that they have do not have a backbone. They may be found either in shallow seas or in coastal pools.

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Limited

COMMON MUSSEL

It

an

is

CRUSTACEANS Crabs and prawns are marine

Their body has a hard exoskeleton, with a frontal flap that grows over the head and thorax like a shell. They have limbs for swimming or crawling, and breathe through gills.

BROWN SHRIMP

SAND GAPER

COMMON RED ANT

GREEN SHORE CRAB

NATIVE OYSTER

LUGWORM

COMMON HERMIT

BEADLET ANEMONE

PURPLE TOPSHELL

ESTUARY RAGWORM

CRAB

COMMON PERIWINKLE

is

EDIBLE CRAB

SNAKELOCKS ANEMONE

KEELWORM

VELVET SWIMMING CRAB

MOON JELLYFISH

DOG WHELK

GLASS PRAWN