Nigel Forteath has spent a lifetime observing and recording the aquatic faunas of fresh and marine habitats. He was brought-up in the Scottish Highlands where he spent many happy hours observing and identifying birds, fish and aquatic insects and for the past 40 years has carried out his research in Tasmania.

This colour-coded guide, lavishly illustrated with high-resolution macro images, is the result of some twenty years of study of the aquatic insect fauna of two Tasmanian lakes and some six years or more of the aquatic invertebrates in various other water freshwater bodies within the State. The content includes an overview of dragonfly natural history, detailed descriptions of the different species and information about the field study locations. 

A joint effort with the Launceston Field Naturalists Club, this book is intended for field naturalists and students, and indeed for all those interested in the conservation of our precious Tasmanian aquatic fauna and freshwater habitats. Dragonflies and damselflies now are facing extinction in many parts of the world and recognition of the Tasmanian species is a key step to ensuring their protection here in Tasmania.