Les Abeilles et Guêpes du Loiret: Hyménoptères Sphéciformes

Description:

Text French. This book is a compendium of knowledge about the Spheciformes Hymenoptera of the Loiret region. At the crossroads between wasps and bees, this little-known group of insects proves interesting in many respects. Both pollinators and hunters, some species actively participate in the regulation of insects harmful to cultivated plants, particularly aphids.

Extensive surveys have been conducted in the department for several decades, and 181 species have been recorded to date. All are presented here to provide the reader with comprehensive information on their frequency, biology, ecology, and activity periods. Some species, however, remain to be discovered. An analysis of the Loiret region's ecological units is also included in the book. Exotic Spheciformes are discussed, and species of heritage value are highlighted to promote better integration of biodiversity considerations into land-use planning and management.

This book will finally allow the non-specialist to become familiar with these discreet wasps, with their diverse shapes and colours, but above all with their fascinating habits.

A definitive reference work featuring:

* An overview of historical fauna and a survey of contemporary fauna in the region

* A synthesis of over 17,000 observations in the Loiret region

* The result of 7 years of work analysing, illustrating, and writing

181 species covered with one fact sheet per species, macrophotographs of at least one species per genus and an analysis of the communities in the major ecological areas of the Loiret region.