British Soldierflies and Their Allies

The guide features detailed identification keys illustrated with line drawings alongside couplets, making species recognition more accessible than in prior works. It includes 20 color plates by David Wilson, showcasing nearly the entire British fauna with photographs of adult specimens, highlighting their distinctive appearances and coloration, plus 17 black-and-white plates of Cheilosia and Sphaerophoria genitalia by Steven Falk and Stuart Ball. Additional content covers ecology, habitats (e.g., wetlands for Stratiomyidae, woodlands for Xylomyidae), flight periods, and larval biology—ranging from predatory larvae (e.g., Asilidae preying on other insects) to saprophytic forms (e.g., Stratiomyidae in decaying wood). The second edition updates species status for conservation concerns (e.g., Machimus arthriticus among Asilidae) and incorporates recent literature, though no new species were added to the British list since 2001.

The book introduces English names for all species, a novel approach for a scientific reference, and includes a checklist, bibliography, and notes on collection methods. It emphasizes these flies’ ecological roles as pollinators and predators, with species like Chrysops relictus (a rare horsefly) noted for conservation significance.