| Author | Rotheray, G.E. |
| Year | 1993 |
| Title | Colour Guide to Hoverfly Larvae (Diptera, Syrphidae) in Britain and Europe |
| ISBN | 0853 7260 |
| Series | Diperists Digest |
| Type | Journal Special Edition |
| How Complete | The British and European hoverfly fauna, where the larval stage is known. They are generally identified to genus. |
| Source | Diperists Digest Dipterists Digest No. 9. |
| Illustrations | A few line drawings in the text, 80 close-up colour photographs of larvae, in situ or against pale backgrounds, 12 photographs of habitat. |
| Review (by Malcolm Storey) | Introductory chapters cover recognising hoverfly larvae, distinguishing the third stage, finding them in the field, examining them live and preserved, rearing, preserving, functional morphology, biocontrol and conservation. The keys begin on p46. They are provisional as so many larvae are unknown and are based on third (final) stage larvae, but will also work for most 2nd stage larvae. The keys generally run to genus. The keys are followed by generic accounts, usually arranged under overall appaerance, confirming characters, related taxa, and biology. Appendix 1 tabulates feeding mode and larval habitat for each genus. Appendix 2 is a proposed phylogeny. Appendix 3 gives literature references, by species. The colour plates at the back can be used (with the facing text) for quick identification to genus (see p124) Can be downloaded from the Diptera.info website. |
| Errata, Corrigenda & Comments | P48: couplet 1 should refer to plates 5a and 7f. "*Ulnus*" (p54 and elsewhere) is a typo for "*Alnus*" not "*Ulmus*". |
| Examine |  Stereo Microscope ( Compound Microscope is also useful) |
| Specimen Preparation | Cleaned (less necessary for predators) live larvae (p26) or killed by bringing to the boil in water and boiled slowly for 3 or 4 mins (p30) and stored in 70% alcohol. |
| Website url | www.diptera.info/downloads.php?cat_id=4 |
