Blanokřídlí České a Slovenské republiky II. - Širopasí – Macek Jan (2020)

The second volume of the series on Hymenoptera, in an expanded form that includes species occurring in Slovakia along with the fauna of the Czech Republic, is a continuation of the first volume published several years ago, which was well received by the public and has already gone through two reprints. Unlike the first volume, the aim of the second is not only to provide a comprehensive overview of the fauna of both territorial units but also to offer a means of identification. This publication differs from the previous volume: it is not just a mere atlas but also serves as a field guide allowing for the identification of families, genera, and – with the exception of some extensive and taxonomically challenging genera of the subfamily Nematinae – individual species. The texts are accompanied by photographs of adults as well as detailed illustrations of significant identifying features, including the genitalia of both sexes where necessary. Additionally, for those with a deeper interest in this group, references to basic identification guides are provided for individual families or subfamilies. Undoubtedly, the most significant contribution of this publication is the illustrations of larval stages. This is indeed their first comprehensive published overview, making this publication a certain rarity in this specialized field not only within...