Determination keys and field guides

Field guides

Field guides are destined to the more experienced observers. They list all species with a summary of diagnostic characters to separate them from similar species. The more common characters are ommited. Most of the species are illustrated with a photograph.

The dragonfly and damselfly field guide overviews all species from the Netherlands and Belgium, including the majority of species from neighboring countries. Only a Dutch version.

The grasshopper and crickets field guide overviews all species of the Netherlands and Belgium. It adds several more southern species too, which may extend northwards due to global warming of the planet. Only a Dutch version.

Keys and provisional keys

The keys allow specimens to be name by providing two alternative description at a time. By selecting the proper description and proceeding to the next, the right species will be found (if you selected all the right descriptions).

Thick headed flies (Diptera: Conopidae). Thick headed flies or Conopid flies are frequent visitors of flowers. Their larvae develop in the abdomen of aculeate Hymenoptera. The female flies onto a host in full flight and deposits an egg between the abdominal segments into the body. Key in English for the Benelux and Great-Brittain.

Snipeflies (Diptera: Rhagionidae and Athericidae). Snipeflies are encountered often in the field. They bask on leaves are perch head down on trunks. Keys in English.

Stiletto Flies (Diptera: Therevidae). Stiletto Flies look like Robberflies but lack the chitinized proboscis. They are found now and then outside, seldom lin large numbers. Keys in English.

Bee-flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae). Diptera with an interesting live history, their larvae are parasites in solitary bee nests. Adults hairy with long tongue, or rather bare with short tongue. Keys in English.

Awlflies (Diptera: Xylophagidae). A small family of only a few species. Their larvae live in decaying wood. Key in English.

Smell flies (Diptera: Coenomyidae). Adults distribute a strong smell, long after dead. One species in Northwest Europe.

Key to the common seashells on the Dutch and Belgian beaches. Key in Dutch.

Hoverflies of Northwest Europe

Addendum for the book "Hoverflies of Northwest Europe. The addendum includes species that have been described or added to the fauna after the book was published. Typos are also corrected.

	The dragonfly and damselfly field guide overviews all species from the Netherlands and Belgium, including the majority of species from neighboring countries. Only a Dutch version.
	The grasshopper and crickets field guide overviews all species of the Netherlands and Belgium. It adds several more southern species too, which may extend northwards due to global warming of the planet. Only a Dutch version.

	Thick headed flies (Diptera: Conopidae). Thick headed flies or Conopid flies are frequent visitors of flowers. Their larvae develop in the abdomen of aculeate Hymenoptera. The female flies onto a host in full flight and deposits an egg between the abdominal segments into the body. Key in English for the Benelux and Great-Brittain.
	Snipeflies (Diptera: Rhagionidae and Athericidae). Snipeflies are encountered often in the field. They bask on leaves are perch head down on trunks. Keys in English.
	Stiletto Flies (Diptera: Therevidae). Stiletto Flies look like Robberflies but lack the chitinized proboscis. They are found now and then outside, seldom lin large numbers. Keys in English.
	Bee-flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae). Diptera with an interesting live history, their larvae are parasites in solitary bee nests. Adults hairy with long tongue, or rather bare with short tongue. Keys in English.
	Awlflies (Diptera: Xylophagidae). A small family of only a few species. Their larvae live in decaying wood. Key in English.
	Smell flies (Diptera: Coenomyidae). Adults distribute a strong smell, long after dead. One species in Northwest Europe.
	Key to the common seashells on the Dutch and Belgian beaches. Key in Dutch.