The Dragonflies of Europe (revised edition)
By R. R. Askew – (2004)
308 pages; matt art paper, with 13 colour photographs (including front cover), 30 colour illustrated plates, 512 monochrome illustrations, 3 tables & 1 explanatory map.
Soft Cover: 23.2cm x 16.8cm
ISBN: 0-946589-75-5
Harley Books, Essex England.
Very few books on damsel and dragonflies are as thoroughly well researched and presented as this one.
It is the modern basis for any study or domestic interest of the European odonates. It uses however, further include cross reference to the odonates of the British Isles, North Africa and lesser so to the Middle East, Asia, North America and continental Africa.
Compared with the first excellent hard cover edition of 1988, the book itself is a slightly smaller size and a little lighter in weight (cheaper for shipping). The bulk of the text and illustrations are the same with numerous additions mostly compiled into a supplement chapter at the end of the book. The colour plates are a smaller size (as is the book) and the colour tones are a little paler, however, by contrast, the illustrations are a little shaper in their presentation. Furthermore, an additional plate has been included in this edition nicely covering an extra 6 species of males and females.
Some of the additions to the text include; 9 extra new species records to Europe plus the exciting discovery of a completely new to science species, Somatochlora borisi from southern Bulgaria and northeastern Greece bringing the total from the previous (1988) number of 114 species to 124 recorded for Europe. There are additional notes on new odonate arrivals to the British Isles, some taxonomic corrections and an extra 115 reference’s added to the supplement chapter bringing the total number of references to over 650. The same 12 colour photos are included near the front of the book with a nice additional photo on the front cover of the new species, Somatochlora borisi.
The colour and monochrome illustrations in this book are excellent and indeed motivating, accompanied by the professional text which is presented so anyone can understand it makes this a superb addition to any professional biologist, student or odonate enthusiasts’ library. For anyone with an interest in the odonates of Europe, as this is the most comprehensive treatment and best illustrations available not to mention the very inclusive list of references and bibliography, you cannot do without it!
Rod Rice
Principal Reviewer
Nature & Travel Books