Identification – Highland Biological Recording Group

Online resources to assist in identification.

This page contains links to websites and other online resources for each of the different taxonomic groups listed below.

Click on the group name to open the list of links for that group.

NOTE: Each of the links selected within the headings below will open in a new browser tab

There are also many local clubs and groups in Highland offering expertise and help in identification of different taxa (here).

Royal Entomological Society Keys (74 RSE Guides, now out of print – for download)

Adults and Larvae of Hide, Larder and Carpet Beetles and their relatives (Coleoptera: Dermestidiae) and of Derodontid Beetles (Coleoptera: Derodontidae). Figures index.

Adults and Larvae of Hide, Larder and Carpet Beetles and their relatives (Coloptera: Dermestidiae) and of Derodontid Beetles (Coleoptera: Derodontidae). Main text

An introduction to the immature stages of British Flies. Diptera Larvae, with notes on eggs, puparia and pupae. Figures index.

An introduction to the immature stages of British Flies. Diptera Larvae, with notes on eggs, puparia and pupae. Main text.

Cicadellidae (Typhlocybinae) with a checklist of the British Auchenorhyncha (Hemiptera, Homoptera)

Classification & biology of braconid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Coleoptera – Coccinellidae & Sphindidae.

Coleoptera – Heteroceridae.

Coleoptera – Tenebrionidae.

Coleoptera (Lagriidae, Aleculidae, Tetratomidae, Melandryidae, Salpingidae, Pythidae, Mycteridae, Oedemeridae, Mordellidae, Scraptiidae, Pyrochroidae, Rhipiphoridae, Anthicidae, Aderidae And Meloidae)

Coleoptera (Pselaphidae).

Coleoptera, Introduction and keys to families

Coleoptera. Buprestidae.

Coleoptera. Carabidae

Coleoptera. Cerambycidae.

Coleoptera. Histeroidea.

Coleoptera. Hydradephaga

Coleoptera. Phalacridae.

Coleoptera. Rhizophagidae.

Coleoptera. Scarabaeoidea (lucanidae, Trogidae, Geotrupidae, Scarabaeidae)

Coleoptera. Scolytidae and Platypodidae.

Coleoptera. Staphylinidae. Section (a) Piestinae to Euaesthetinae.

Cuckoo-Wasps. Hymenoptera, Chrysididae.

Dermaptera and Orthoptera

Diptera – 1. Introduction and key to families.

Diptera – 2. Nematocera: families Tipulidae to Chironomidae (Chironomidae).

Diptera – 2. Nematocera: families Tipulidae to Chironomidae (Tipulidae).

Diptera – 2. Nematocera: families Tipulidae to Chironomidae (Trichoceridae – Culicidae).

Diptera – Agromyzidae.

Diptera – Brachycera. Tabanoidea and Asiloidea.

Diptera – Conopidae.

Diptera – Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata, Section (b) Muscidae.

Diptera – Cyclorrhapha. Calyptrata (1) Section (a) Tachinidae and Calliphoridae (Calliphoridae).

Diptera – Cyclorrhapha. Calyptrata (1) Section (a) Tachinidae and Calliphoridae (Tachinidae).

Diptera – Hippoboscidae and Nycteribiidae (Keds, Flat-Flies and Bat-Flies).

Diptera – Nematocera. Mycetophilidae (Bolitophilinae, Ditomyiinae, Diadocidiinae, Keroplatinae, Sciophilinae and Manotinae).

Diptera – Orthorrhapha Brachycera. Dolichopodidae.

Diptera – Tephritidae.

Diptera. Pipunculidae.

Diptera. Syrphidae.

Diptera: Bibionid and Scatopsid flies

Dung Beetles & chafers – Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea.

Ephemeroptera

Hemiptera – Cicadomorpha – Deltocephalinae

Hemiptera – Cicadomorpha (excluding Deltocephalinae and Typhlocybinae)

Hemiptera – Fulgoromorpha

Homoptera – Aphidoidea (Part) – Chaitophoridae & Callaphididae

Homoptera – Psylloidea

Hymenoptera – Aculeata (Scolioidea, Vespoidea and Sphecoidea).

Hymenoptera – Bethyloidea (excluding Chrysididae).

Hymenoptera – Formicidae.

Hymenoptera – Ichneumonoidea (Pimplinae)

Hymenoptera – Ichneumonoidea.

Hymenoptera – Introduction and key to families (2nd edition).

Hymenoptera – Pompilidae.

Hymenoptera – Symphyta.

Hymenoptera 2. Chalcidoidea Section (a).

Hymenoptera 2. Chalcidoidea Section (b).

Hymenoptera Ichneumonoidea key to subfamilies Ichneumoninae I

Hymenoptera, Proctotrupoidea. Diapriidae subfamily Diapriinae.

Hymenoptera. Cynipoidea. Eucoilidae.

Hymenoptera. Cynipoidea. Key to families and subfamilies and Cynipinae (including galls).

Hymenoptera. Proctotrupoidea. Diapriidae subfamily Belytinae.

Ichneumonidae – Orthopelmatinae & Anomaloninae.

Mecoptera Megaloptera Neuroptera

Thysanura and Diplura

Trichoptera

Bees, Ants, Wasps, Sawflies – Hymenoptera

Ants: High-definition images

Bees, Wasps & Ants

Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society

Beginner’s guide to identifying British ichneumonids

British and Irish Sawflies

Bees and Wasps – British Hymenoptera

Bumblebees (Steven Falk’s excellent resource)

Social Wasps: Identification (omits D. norwegica)

Social Wasps: Part 1

Social Wasps: Part 2

Scottish Aculeate List

Bugs – Hemiptera

British Bugs – Hemiptera

Froghoppers

Hoppers and Cicadas – key to Families within the Auchenorrhyncha

True bugs – Identification Guides to the Hemiptera of Britain

Aphid identification and resources

Waterbugs – Aquatic Heteroptera

Beetles – Coleoptera

UK Ladybirds

Key to Beetle Families

John Walters’ Beetle Guides

UK Beetles Beetles

British Beetles

British Coleoptera

Longhorn Beetles – Guide to Scottish species (pdf)

Sexton (burying) Beetles – key to British Silphidae (pdf)

Sexton (burying) beetles – key to British Silphidae

Dung Beetles – key to British Geotropidae

Ground beetles – keys to British Carabidae (Mike Hackston)

Ground Beetles of Ireland

Saproxylic Beetles (in dead wood) – key to British

Sapoxylic beetles (Ross Piper’s site)

Saproxylic Beetles – key to British species

Site allowing comparison of beetle images

Butterflies and Moths – Lepidoptera

Butterflies

Butterflies & Moths of the Outer Hebrides

Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation – Highlands and Islands Branch

Scottish micro moth distribution maps

Scottish Moth flight times and distribution maps

UK Moths

What’s Flying Tonight – moths than may be flying

Caddis Flies – Trichoptera

Keys for the identification of British caddis flies (Trichoptera)

Centipedes and Millipedes – Myriapods

Centipedes: British Myriapod & Isopod Group

Millipedes: British Myriapod & Isopod Group

Earwigs (Dermaptera), Woodlice and Waterlice

Earwigs – Dermaptera

Woodlice and Waterlice: British Myriapod & Isopod Group

Dragonflies – Odonata

British Dragonflies and Damselfies

British Dragonfly Society

Flies – Diptera

Barkflies

Barkfly Recording Scheme

Blowflies – illustrated .pdf guide to (most) of our blowflies

Blowflies (Calliphoridae)

Blowflies, Woodlice Flies – draft key to Calliphoridae and Rhinophoridae

Craneflies of the World

Dagger Flies – Empididae – Diptera (Mike’s Insect keys)

Dagger Flies – Empididae – Diptera

Flies and Midges – Diptera

Horse flies, clegs & deer flies – Family Tabanidae

Housefly Musca domestica identification

Book: Hoverflies of Northwest Europe (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Leaf miner flies – Agromyzidae of Great Britain and Ireland

Louse flies and keds – Hippoboscidae

Louse flies and keds – Northwestern European Hippoboscidae

Stilt and Stalk Flies – Key to Finnish Micropezidae

Robber flies – Asilidae (Excellent, but in Dutch (.pdf, 23Mb, best saved to disc)

Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme

Thick-headed flies – keys to Conopidae (Diptera)

True Flies – keys to British Diptera

Grasshoppers and Crickets – Orthoptera

Grasshoppers Characteristics Guide – Orthoptera identification – grasshopper, crickets, locusts

Grasshoppers – Orthoptera recording scheme

Alder flies, Dobson flies, Barklice, Booklice, Bristletails, Silverfish and Firebrats

Alder flies, Dobson flies – Megaloptera

Booklice, Barklice, Barkflies- Identification Guides for the British Psocoptera

Bristletails – Microcoryphia (Archaeognatha)

Silverfish, Firebrats – Zygentoma

Invertebrates

Marine Bivalve Shells of the British Isles (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

British Bryozoa

Earthworm Key

Update on native and alien land flatworms (2023)

British_galls (Yahoo group)

Leafminers and plant galls of Europe

Leaf and stem miners – UK key

Leafminers and plant galls of Europe

Mollusc Identification Guides

Sea slugs – Nudibranchs of the British Isles

Slugs, Snails, Bivalves

Conchological Society

Money Spiders – Linyphiidae

Spiders and Harvestmen – British Myriapods and Isopods

Spiders North West Europe

Spiders and Harvestmen

Harvestmen (Opiliones) in the UK

Stalked jellyfish – Stauromedusae – photographic guide

Amphibians & Reptiles

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust

Frogs, Toads and Spawn

Birds

Bird Identification (BTO)

RSPB (pictures and .mp3 files)

Recordings of many British and foreign birds

Bird Identification (RSPB)

Common Garden birds

Bird skulls

Bird feathers

How to identify wildlife in owl pellets

Fish

Freshwater Fish in the UK

Flora – Vascular Plants and Mosses

Botanical Society of Scotland (plants and fungi)

BSBI Plant Crib

BSBI – Plant ID: getting started

Key to Plant Families

Sedges: key to British Carex

Vegetative Grasses – key

Freshwater Diatom Flora of Britain and Ireland

British Bryological Society – mosses and liverworts

Mike’s Botany – mosses

Mike’s Botany – flowers (focus is a guide to botany terms)

Key to Groups of British Grasses

Seaweed – Big Seaweed Search

Seaweed identification (NHBS)

Orchid observers Identification Guide (downloads a pdf)

Orchid Observers Identification Guide

Tree Identification Guide (Natural History Museum)

Tree Identification keys

Tree identification (Woodland Trust)

Irish Wild Flowers

Fungi

Scottish Fungi

Fungi of Great Britain and Ireland

Fungi of the Outer Hebrides

Key to Macrofungi Genera

MycoKey Morphing Mushroom Identifier

MycoKey species search

Paul Cannon’s site on fungi and lichens

Photographs of fungi in SW England by David Fenwick

Lichens

A guide to lichens on twigs

British Lichen Society

Dorset Lichens

Irish Lichens

Lichens of Wales

Marine, Maritime, Oceanic and similar Lichens

Mammals

Bat Conservation Trust

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust – species identification

UK Whales and Dolphins – species identification

Identifying Wildcats and hybrids

Mammal Society

Mammal Society: British mammals

Separating Polecat, Ferret, and hybrids

How to identify wildlife in owl pellets

Introduction to tracks and trails (Scottish Wildlife Trust)

How to identify droppings (Wildlife Trusts)