Dragonflies are regarded by many as the jewels of the insect world. For centuries, they have been revered by humans and celebrated in art, poetry and religion. Today they are a very popular group with the naturalist, appreciated for their beauty and exceptional ability on the wing.The modern-day dragonflies are the descendants of giant insects that flew in the prehistoric forests of the Carboniferous era. In this comprehensive study of the Irish fauna, Brian Nelson and Robert Thompson combine their knowledge and research, based on twenty years of field study, with new information gleaned from an extensive four-year study carried out by the DragonflyIreland Project. The book covers all aspects of dragonfly biology and ecology and the history of dragonfly study in Ireland. There are comprehensive accounts of all the resident and migrant species, an in-depth description of the major odonate habitats and a gallery section illustrating and describing over fifty sites in detail. Additional chapters include Fieldcraft, Conservation, Where to watch odonates and Photography. There is an extensive bibliography listing all currently known publications.The highly informative text is written for the keen naturalist, biologist, and those wishing to garner a greater understanding and appreciation of these magnificent wetland insects.