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Meticulously researched and illustrated with more than 2000 color photographs taken by the author, Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera is a landmark reference book that will be indispensable to any naturalist, biologist or entomologist. Most photographs in this encyclopedic reference were taken in the field and show the insects in their natural environment. All of the world's fly families are included, with photographic coverage spanning the range from common deer flies and fruit flies through to deadly tsetse flies and malaria mosquitoes, with thousands of spectacular species such as exotic stalk eyed flies, giant robber flies and hedgehog flies in between.
Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera is broken up into three parts: Life Histories, Habits and Habitats of Flies; Diversity; and Identifying and Studying Flies. The 20 pages of profusely illustrated keys linked to the unprecedented photographic coverage of the world's fly families and subfamilies enable the reader to identify most flies quickly and accurately, and to readily access information about each family as well as hundreds of distinctive genera and species.
Part 1: Life Histories, Habits and Habitats of Flies
Chapter 1 -- Life Histories of Flies
Chapter 2 -- Flies, Plants and Fungi
Chapter 3 -- Flies and Vertebrates
Chapter 4 -- Flies and Invertebrates
Part 2: Diversity
Chapter 5 -- Origins and Distribution of the Diptera
Chapter 6 -- The Lower Diptera
Chapter 7 -- The Lower Brachycera and Empidoidea
Chapter 8 -- The Higher Brachycera or Cyclorrhapha
Part 3: Identifying and Studying Flies
Chapter 9 -- Collecting, Preserving and Rearing Flies
Chapter 10 -- Identifying Fly Families
Stephen A. Marshall is a professor of entomology at the University of Guelph, where he developed a major insect collection and carries out research on insect systematics and biodiversity. He has discovered hundreds of new species, several new genera and even two new subfamilies. He is the author of Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity.
"One of the most beautiful and useful accounts of insect life ever written."
- Edward O Wilson, Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
"The book presents a genuine exuberance of Dipteran life styles, so fascinating that the reader cannot help being taken by the fact that life on this planet – our life – is intimately connected with flies."
- Thomas Pape, Associate Professor, Natural History Museum of Denmark
"This book is a benchmark publication, not only in entomology, but in natural history as a whole. See for yourself!"
- Daniel J. Bickel, Research Scientist, Entomology, Australian Museum
"A must-have for anyone fascinated by the wonder and natural world around them."
- Bernd Heinrich, Professor Emeritus, The University of Vermont
"Fabulous Flies. Fantastic Book. Flies represent more than ten percent of the World's biodiversity. Steve Marshall has captured this in a splendid book, with rich color photographs and informative text."
- Chris Thompson, Adjunct Scientist, Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Natural History
"'Steve Marshall has provided us with two thousand of the most remarkable photographs of living flies [...] the beauty and diversity of their colors and shapes of even some of our most feared enemies. and the intriguing details in the captions about their behavior, biology and special features, will win over even the most diehard dipterophobe."
- D.M. Wood, Honorary Research Associate, Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes
