Ants

by Gary J. Skinner, Geoffrey W. Allen

Information on the biology of ants and various techniques for studying ants is included. An extensive chapter on ant identification forms the bulk of this handbook with keys to worker ants, queen ants and male ants accompanied by colour and b/w plates. A quick-check field key is also included for use in the field. 978-1-907807-60-2 is a 2013 reprint of the paperback first edition.

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Mark Reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, which summarises the biology of ants and the organisms that have a close relationship to them. It had limitations as a field guide though, as the maps showing the biology of the different species were too zoomed out to identify the areas with any clarity. Moreover, the guide to the various morphological features was hard to follow.

[Niall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted a book that would enable me to separate the British Formicidae, in order to make ecological observations, and this is exactly what I got. Its use as a field guide is probably limited, although you should be able to distinguish some larger species (such as Formicinae) in the field using a good hand lens. For most, the authors recommend a low-power dissecting microscope.

The book includes good illustrated keys for workers and both male and female reproductives, with a glossary to start the amateur off at a good pace. Colour plates show some Formica and Myrmica species, as well as a few others, and greyscale plates show many reproductives.

I think the only thing that might have improved this would be good colour plates for all those species that could be identified in the field (such as the aforementioned Formicinae: I found the incomplete nature of this to be a not-insurmountable nuisance, using a hand lens and looking at the heads).

The book begins with a properly referenced overview of ant biology and ecology, and ends with a look at the study of ants, both in the field and in formicaria. There are also distribution notes for those species likely to be encountered in Britain (although I would recommend cross-referencing with the NBN databases and reporting colonies appropriately, especially with climate change starting to bite).

The book fits in the pocket of my hiking trousers or in the top pocket of a rucksack.

All in all, a great book for the amateur. If you want a book to get you started on identifying, understanding and studying British ants, this is it.