Under The Microscope

AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO SOME NEW ZEALAND INSECT FAMILIES by Elizabeth A. Grant; Manaaki Whenua Press, 1999; 196 pp; $32.50 (inc. p&p)

Reviewed by Sharon Alderson

The magnitude of the insect fauna would prevent any but the most dedicated of entomology enthusiasts ever becoming familiar with more than a small percentage of insects to species level. However, while there are several guidebooks enabling species identification of the most common New Zealand insects, this book fills a gap by providing a simple means of identifying insects to family level. Many families of insects are relatively easily distinguished and this book describes distinctive features of 134 of these families in simple terms, providing clearly labelled diagrams of representative species for most families.

The index lists these species by both common and scientific name.

While for the most part the language is clear and non-technical, defining features such as presence or absence of auditory tympanal organs (among the orthoptera), may confuse lay readers as there is no glossary of these terms. However, most families are distinguished by more easily described features such as colour and body shape, and definitive features are often labelled on accompanying diagrams. There is a quick guide to some orders covered by the book, but to find the more obscure families it would be necessary to flick through the whole book until a diagram resembling your insect is spotted. A key covering all of the orders represented in the book would perhaps have been an improvement.

Despite these points I consider this volume a valuable addition to the insect taxonomy bookshelf, and would recommend it to anyone wishing to further their knowledge of New Zealand's natural history.

Sharon Alderson is an entomology technician interested in all areas of biology.