Hoverflies of Northwest Europe

a detailed guide for identifying hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Northwest Europe, covering the region from Great Britain to the German-Polish border and from the Loire to the Arctic Circle. The book catalogs 500 species—about two-thirds of the known European syrphid fauna—building on earlier works like Van der Goot (1981) and Verlinden (1991) while incorporating decades of new research. It features dichotomous keys to identify species, richly illustrated with over 800 drawings (many by Verlinden from his Belgian fauna study) showing both detailed features and whole flies, alongside 17 color photos.

The book includes practical sections on hoverfly biology, distinguishing them from bees and wasps (noting their hovering flight and single pair of wings), their habitats (forests, marshes, meadows, gardens), and the best times to observe them (spring to autumn). It also covers collecting and preserving specimens, early life stages (eggs and larvae), and the hoverfly body structure. An extensive index doubles as a checklist for the region’s species. While praised for its thoroughness and illustrations, some users note the keys can be challenging for beginners, with occasional printing errors (later corrected online).