Research is ongoing on developing assessment tools using invertebrates. These are available as Irish Wildlife Manuals including species accounts of the Irish hoverflies (IWM 36 
[6,756KB]), butterflies and noctuid moths (IWM 35 [3,862KB]) and molluscs (IWM 41 [2,524KB]). A manual on the use of water beetles in habitat assessment is being written and should be available in 2012.
There are many species of invertebrate that would make interesting research topics and which NPWS would like to encourage. If you have any ideas on invertebrate-related topics that you would like to propose or discuss please contact Dr Brian Nelson.
Recent publications on Irish invertebrates
The following is a selection of publications giving results of NPWS-funded research or written by NPWS staff on invertebrates -
Regan, E., Nelson, B., McCormack, S., Nash, R. & O’Connor, J.P. 2010. Countdown to 2010: can we assess Ireland’s insect species diversity and loss? Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 110B: 109–117.
Drinan, T., Nelson, B., Tickner, M., O’Donnell, G., Harrison, S. & O’Halloran, J. 2011. First discovery of larvae of the Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea (L., 1758) (Odonata: Corduliidae) in Ireland and the species’ use of lakes in treeless blanket bog in Connemara, Co. Galway. Journal of the British Dragonfly Society 27: 1-12.
Mc Donnell, R.J. & Gormally, M.J. (2011) Identification of a live trapping method for the protected European slug, Geomalacus maculosus Allman 1843 (Arionidae). Journal of Conchology 40: 483-485.
Nelson, B., Hughes, M. and Bond, K. 2011. The distribution of Leptidea sinapis (Linnaeus, 1758) and L. reali Reissinger, 1989 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in Ireland. Entomologist’s Gazette 62: 213-233.
Nelson, B. 2011. A review of notable records of Irish odonates post DragonflyIreland (2004-2010), including confirmation of the Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan) on the Irish list. Journal of the British Dragonfly Society 27: 105-131.