Author Description

The Hymenoptera--a diverse group of insects that includes bees, ants, and solitary wasps--is by far the largest order of insects in Britain. This volume describes the group's various families, and provides a much-needed introductory survey for nonspecialists. Each account includes a diagnosis of the taxon, comments on the size and geographical distribution of the family, and a synopsis of the biology of the group. Seminal works for the identification of British species are listed and new keys are provided to the families and superfamilies. As there are close resemblances between the British and North American faunas at the family and subfamily levels, this book is relevant to U.S. and Canadian study. Many of the biological examples are based on work done in North America.