Soldierflies, their Allies and Conopidae of Surrey

Soldierflies, their allies and Conopidae of Surrey is the first comprehensive county guide to a fascinating yet overlooked group of invertebrates which merit much closer attention than they have so far received.

The Soldierflies and their allies, (collectively known as the 'Larger Brachycera'), are an attractive group of Diptera consisting of 11 separate families with intriguing names such as bee-flies, horseflies, robberflies, snipeflies and stiletto flies. Some are brilliantly coloured while others are relatively drab. Some are tiny, measuring just a couple of millimetres across while a few, such as the Dark Giant Horsefly, are ten times that size and within their numbers are bloodsuckers, predators and parasitoids.

A high proportion of the soldierflies and their allies are considered nationally scarce and are generally not easy to find. The same can also be said for the Conopidae, which are parasitoids mostly of bees and wasps although thanks to its rich bee and wasp fauna, Surrey has 19 of the 23 species that make up the British list of conopid flies.

Jointly written by David Baldock and Jeremy Early, the book contains a distribution map together with notes on the life cycle of each species. There are also details on how to find the flies, analysis of the best sites in Surrey, data about enemies and predators, and a full list of references. The stunning colour plates illustrate more than 80 species, mostly in the wild and often displaying characteristic behaviour.

Hardback, colour illustrations throughout

David W. Baldock & Jeremy P. Early, Surrey Wildlife Trust, 2015