Book Description

A delightful small-format book that will appeal to butterfly enthusiasts young and old, with vivid images by the leading butterfly photographer and texts by preeminent writers in the field. ... Read more

Book Description

Butterflies are among the natural world's most colorful and intriguing creatures, so what could be more useful than a handy field guide with more than 1,000 photographs of all the butterflies of North America north of Mexico, including all true butterflies, the most common skippers, and many migrants and strays. The color plates are visually arranged by shape and color, and thumb-tab silhouettes provide a convenient index to identification of butterflies in the field. The species account for each butterfly provides measurements, descriptions of each stage of the life cycle, and information on coloring or distinguishing markings, flight period, habitat, and range. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

As good as the Kaufman Guide! (The ultimate best.)
The Audubon Guide to Butterflies equals the completely perfect Kaufman Guide to Butterflies in every way. First, there are countless numbers of species listed, which is essential to identify a particular specimen. It is also very detailed in the description of the species in the back of the book. It is perfect for beginner naturalists and experts!
So, why is it so underrated? For one reason, many are too lazy to quickly flip to the back of the book and read the description. Anyone stating that this is for the very beginning amateur must have the wrong field guide altogether! Saying that the Golden Guides are for beginners is understandable, but saying that about an Audubon Guide is not.
This a "stonewall" entry in the long list of Audubon Guides, and may very well be one of the best!

Terrific Book!
I love this book. It has every catapillar & butterfly you can imagine in it. Nicely detailed & full of information. This was a great addittion to our other National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds.

all right ,I agree.
this is a wonderfull book with all that i need.

in the other books the butterflies shown are dead, and i dont like that. I mean, Iam a butterfly lover. I hate that.

This is a beatyfull book and i love it.

Nat. Audubon Soc. Field guide o North American butterflies
I could not identify all the butterfly caterpillars. I have many different kinds of caterpillars in my garden and would like to know what they will turn into. I recommend that each butterfly picture have on the same page a picture of the caterpillar. This would make identification of a butterfly to be much easier.

The book was not concise.

Up to the usual Audubon Society high standards
I use both Audubon Society and Petersons small wildlife identification guides and find that are quite good with their own plus and minuses. Petersons is better for taking into the field for things that move (animals and insects) due to the layout which allows for quicker identification. Audubon is better for things that can't get away (plants) and with animals and insects, for obtaining data about the creature's habitat. This guide is as good as any other in their series, which is to say that it is very good. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Blends gardening and wild animal management and observation
Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard deserves ongoing mention as an outstanding survey of how gardens can attract desired wild birds and butterflies. From determining how native plants interact in the environment and help attract native visitors to understanding how to maintain a healthy environment, Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard comes packed with tips which blend gardening and wild animal management and observation. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is an accessible, informative, and highly illustrated book that offers a fresh view of butterflies in the East Coast states, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Appalachians. In addition to providing a wealth of facts and photos, the book is the first to furnish detailed and up-to-date photo-illustrated information on the host plants favored by particular species. With 234 full-page species accounts and accompanying range maps, plus more than 950 large-size color photos, it is an essential reference work for field observers, gardeners, educators, and conservation managers--or anyone interested in appreciating the lepidopteran world close at hand.

The introductory chapters detail the subtle ecology of the East Coast region, establishing a consistent ecological framework that enriches the individual species accounts. There is also an overview of current scientific literature and observational findings to help readers better interpret complex butterfly behaviors in the field, including seasonal movements, host plant and diapause strategies, defensive chemistry, and more.

The book is written by Rick Cech, a seasoned field observer who has spent years studying and photographing East Coast butterflies. His substantial first-hand experience with both the common and rare species in the region adds much depth and new insight to the commentary.

* 234 full-page species accounts and accompanying range maps
* 950 large-size color photos
* 215 photos of individual host plants and habitats
* 735 high-quality photos of butterflies and caterpillars
* Introductory chapters detailing the subtle ecology of the East Coast region
* An overview of current scientific literature and observational findings
* Descriptions of diapause and host plant strategies and defensive chemistry
* User-friendly with clear, concise text

... Read more

Book Description

With habitats ranging from sea level to over 3,800 meters, the small Neotropical country of Costa Rica encompasses more than fifteen distinct life zones and contains a large percentage of all the butterfly species known from Central America. In this field guide, a sequel to the volume on Papilionidae, Pieridae, and Nymphalidae, Philip DeVries provides the first detailed treatment of over 250 species of Costa Rican butterflies in the family Riodinidae. Drawing from his extensive fieldwork, museum research, and surveys of scientific literature, DeVries presents the means to identify riodinid butterflies to the species level and gives an overview of their natural history. This guide illustrates nearly all of the Costa Rican species in color and provides a large sample of detailed line drawings and scanning electron micrographs of riodinid early stages for the first time ever. The book's coverage makes it useful for identifying riodinids throughout Mexico, Central America, and substantial portions of South America.

The introductory chapter brings together a large body of material that applies directly to understanding riodinid butterflies in general. The taxonomy, distribution, and natural history of each taxon is discussed in detail. The author also provides sections on ecology, evolution, behavior, symbioses with ants, caterpillar acoustical calls, systematics, collecting and preserving, hostplant relationships, and the comparative diversity of riodinid butterfly faunas. A section on butterfly biologists of the last century provides a historical perspective to the basis of our understanding of Neotropical butterflies.

... Read more

Reviews (4)

butterly museum
This book along with the photo essay book "Costa Rica : The Last Country the Gods Made" should be owned by anyone who loves Costa Rica, even if they think they despise nature studies as dry and limited. Buy it just for the color plates. This book's spirit is undeniable.

A Butterfly Museum
This book along with the photo essay book "Costa Rica : The Last Country the Gods Made" should be owned by anyone who loves Costa Rica, even if they think they despise nature studies as dry and limited. Buy it just for the color plates. This book's spirit is undeniable.

Not meant for your daypack
This hefty book is not a book you would like to drag along in you daypack (I tried, so I know). Yet, you will need it around (so, in your lodge or tent) when you're walking the rainforests and trying to make out what you've seen. It gives a clear description, added to clear drawings, of all the butterflies in the described families. That leads me to the only drawback: it's "just" a number of famlies described here, so the title is somewhat misleading. I'm eagerly awaiting the follow-up with the rest of the Lepidoptera, hoping that they will be covered in a similar way.

Butterflies for the whole family
For all of you who are looking for a good quality source book for your art projects this is the book that will provide you, not only, with detailed drawings but also with beautiful color images of Costa Rican butterflies. I only wish there were more color photographs of the insect, but since I researched line drawings to incorporate them into design this book even exceeded my needs. It also helped my seven year old daughter to understand and appreciate the complexity of this species not only its beauty. The text is easy to understand and can make a good vacation reading ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (9)

fine pocket guide
This is a nice pocket-sized handbook for identifying, collecting and raising butterflies, skippers and moths. The introductory chapter describes the order Lepidoptera and details the equipment needed for capture and care of these lovely creatures, and includes a short bibliography. Subsequently, color and b&w drawings of adults, pupae and caterpillars along with distribution maps of North America help with identification, and short paragraphs give information about feeding and regional variations. This handy guide ends with a list of scientific names and an index. This would be a fine introduction for the older child or beginning adult lepidopterist.

Excellent!
For being just a tiny pocket guide this book is terrific! It has most of the common butterflies and moths as the title indicates but what I especially love is that it also shows the caterpillars! Its great to have these side by side so that if you find a caterpillar you can id it and see what its going to turn into. Really great reference.

Teaches in a Pleasing Way
I carried an earlier edition of "Butterflies and Moths" around with my as I traipsed about fields near my home, butterfly hunting. I'd find a butterfly (or moth, as the case may be) and approximate which one it was through this guide.

The pictures are accurate. Not only will you see the butterfly, but a close up of various parts. There are maps showing where it can be found, a very useful tool when the picture doesn't seem to match. It can help you determine if you have a certain variation, or a very lost butterfly.

Though a picture is worth a thousand words, the text found here is equally helpful. There are Latin names, pupae descriptions, eating habits and more. They've been careful not to overwhelm the reader, but there's plenty to whet the reading appetite of any young butterfly hunter.

It isn't just for children. Anyone with a garden would be happy to have this as a reference or as curious reading to learn just who has been munching the lettuce.

I fully recommend "Butterflies and Moths" by Robert T. Mitchell.

Anthony Trendl

Fine Source for Illustrations of Caterpillars
Golden Guides are often described as books for children just discovering the natural world. While the series is eminently usable by young naturalists, Golden Guides are solid introductory field guides.

The strong point of "Butterflies and Moths" is its extensive coverage of butterfly larvae and pupae. A common complaint about many if not all more advanced field guides for laypeople is that they fail to include illustrations for te identification of caterpillars. The Golden Guide remedies this shortcoming and includes solid coverage of moths as well, whose less-glamorous condition excludes them from other butterflies-only guides (the Peterson Guide is a notable exception). In terms of weaknesses, the illustrations of adult butterflies have, in my experience, not been detailed or accurate enough to positively identify some species.

The perfect field guide to butterflies and moths
I recently purchased my second copy of this classic field guide. I still have my originial after thirty-six years (it sold for $1.00 back then). It is loaded with just enough useful information to help you identify many of the most common North American species. What I like most about this guide is the convenient small size. ... Read more

Book Description

Kaufman Focus Guides cut through the clutter to focus on the essentials.

* More than 2,300 images of butterflies in natural, lifelike poses
* Pictorial table of contents
* Convenient one-page index
* Full index that doubles as a life list
* Similar species arranged side by side for easy comparison
* Range maps on text pages showing where each species is common or rare and indicating seasons of occurrence ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Designed for beginners?
So far, this the best field guide for amateurs and advanced naturalists alike. It contains many more species than seen in other books I have purchased on butterflies. It is is excellent that Kaufman and Brock gave their efforts to photograph so many specimens, even some of the rarest species. One the rare butterflies, the best descriptions to identify them are given. If you think you've found an uncommon butterfly, consult this book. You will know, believe me. Stating that this is geared toward amateurs only is a complete understatement. Butterflies Through Binoculars is great, but this equals the other one, in specifics, photo quality, and field identification! Thank you Ken Kaufman.

Helpful book
This book is very helpful for finding the names of the butterflies you find. It's color marked pages help you find them fast. It has range maps an colors on the range maps so you know what season thay fly. It tells you what larval food thay eat.The butterflies are listed in groups. If you want to know more about butterflies you will like this book. I use this book almost every day.

Excellent reference for identifying butterflies!
This is a great reference book for identifying butterflies. I especially liked the detailed photos and illustrations that showed butterflies as they would generally appear in nature. Other books often show the butterfly with wings open, but not with wings folded up, for example. This book shows both, including the differences between male and female butterflies and other details, so it makes it easy to compare your photo with the book's. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who takes lots of butterfly photos and wants to identify what you've photographed.

Practical and well-designed
The latest Kaufman Focus Guide, designed for beginners, features a pictorial table of contents, a primer on identification and habitat, butterfly lifecycle and where to find the critters, other butterfly activities, such as gardening and photography, and further sources of information, such as books, websites and organizations. It concludes with an index of larval food plants, an index of scientific names, an index of English names which doubles as a life list and a final one-page quick-find, color-coded index.

In between are 2,300 digitally edited photographs, which have the easy-comparison advantages of paintings, and concise descriptions, with range map and primary larval foodplant. Each page of illustrations also includes an "actual size" figure, which is amazingly useful in the field. Similar species are grouped together for convenient comparison.

This is another practical, well-designed and beautiful addition to the Focus Guide series.

The best butterfly field guide to date....
This is the best butterfly guide on the market. It's convenient, light-weight, and well illustrated. Kaufman has organized his butterfly images very well; the pictures are large enough to be useful while stilling keeping the guide compact. Each image is clear and concise, showing the field marks and vivid colors of various butterfly species.

There are other features besides imaging that make this guide so handy. It's smaller than BUTTERFILES THROUGH BINOCULARS, which makes it easier to carry in the field. Secondly, it covers all of North America. Finally, there are silhouette style images provided on the plates, showing the actual sizes of the butterflies, which can be very useful for distinguishing one species from another. Some caterpillar images are also provided along with adult butterfly images. Despite all this, the authors have left plenty of space for useful texts that accompany each plate. Included in the text are notes on the butterflies' behavior and flight patterns, as well as the food preferences of their larva. The range map for each butterfly species is provided alongside the text.

Overall, this is a great butterfly guide. Whether you just like identifying the butterflies in your yard or happen to be a serious butterfly-watching enthusiast, this guide is likely to be right up your alley. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bird lovers...become butterfly enthusiasts...
I've been enchanted with birds ever since I observed my parents whistling and mocking the mockingbirds who mocked them back. I've been a gardener forever, cursing those creepy caterpillers who devoured this and that. In the past few years I've taken a greater interest in butterflies, and lo what do I discover...the creepy caterpillers turn into the beautiful butterflies if the birds don't eat them first. I knew that of course because like lots of kids, I too brought home the cocoon found on some branch and kept it in a glass jar with holes punched in the top until it did not "hatch." Yes, I said did NOT. I never had any success with this effort so I forgot about caterpillers and cocoons--until I opened STOKES BUTTERFLY BOOK and there are those darn cocoons again.

This is a wonderful book for adolescent children who can read big words and like big type or older people with vision problems. The pictures are colorful and closeup and the type large enough that my aunt can see it under her "reading" machine" (she has diabetes and is sight impaired).

The book is filled with all sorts of interesting information about the behaviour of butterfiles (basking in the sun to warm up their wings, puddling to suck up nutients; courting and laying eggs --surprise there are two sexes, just like the birds). There are also lots of photos of their predecessors--the caterpillers who require a daily ration of greens to grow up into beautiful bugs.

Now I must admit it is about time that I realized that every orange and black butterfly I see is NOT a Monarch, but goodness there are so MANY orange and black butterfiles will I ever be able to tell them apart? Some are Crescents and Checkerspots (in my neck of the woods which is the East Coast) and there are Admirals. Goodness--Monarchs, Admirals, Viceroys--I had no idea there was an aristocracy of butterflies.

I intend to use this book with my granddaughters who love to walk in grandma's garden and learn the names of plants and bugs and birds. Now we'll learn the names of caterpillers and their reincarnations who form an intermediate link in the food chain.

Handy guide
The two things I liked best about this book are the pages devoted to identifying butterflies by color (it groups them so that if you see one that is predominantly orange, you can look at the page of orange butterflies to find the one you're trying to identify), and the pages devoted to creating an attractive butterfly garden, with schemes showing how to arrange plants that attract butterflies. It's not a technical book, thereby making it a good guide for backyard butterfly enthusiasts.

The Butterfly Book: An Easy Guide To Butterfly Gardening
This book will give you all the information you need to select the plants neccesary to attract butterflies and feed their catapillars. Picutures help you identify both adult butterflies and their catipillars. I keep my copy handy to check who/what is enjoying the garden. Great for the beginner or expert. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

First choice
Glassberg's BTB is the benchmark and the book to buy first. You may not need another.

Absolutely PERFECT book to identify BUTTERFLIES
WOW. Great book much better than any other I have seen. The descriptions between different frittillaries is amazing. Down to the small missing line that distinguishes great spangled from nokomis. Did I know that before I got the book? DUH.. NO!!! The best thing about this book is it shows SIDE view AND a TOP view... Many times you only see or photo either top or side. I was very frustrated with other books. I intend to recommend this book on my website theoutdoorgirls.com

Cherry Emerson, Ph.D.

Best Pictures Ever
As a beginner, I was able to pick up this book and start identifying butterflies in the field right away. The pictures are great and make it very easy to see the key features. The descriptions are clear and the additional information on range, habitats, and seasons very helpful.

Outstanding Photos Make Sight Identification Easier
This field guide is designed to encourage sight identification of butterflies by using field marks and habitat clues, just like birdwatchers do. Jeffrey Glassberg's photographs reveal butterflies in their natural settings as they are actually seen. Glassberg is a superb photographer and he groups similar butterflies on the same page, making comparison and contrast easier. Glassberg has provided all information on facing pages: range map and text on the left, photos on the right. There is no need to flip to another page. The introductory text contains use information on conservation, habitat, binoculars, photography, and tips for improving sight identification. Glassberg's mission, as founder and President of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA), has been to promote the nonconsumptive enjoyment of butterflies by the public. This field guide, and its companion Butterflies through Binoculars: the East, do the job.

"Outstanding photos make sight identification easier"
This field guide is designed to encourage sight identification of butterflies by using field marks and habitat clues, much as birdwatchers do. Jeffrey Glassberg's photographs reveal butterflies in their natural settings as they are actually seen. Glassberg is a superb photographer and he groups similar butterflies on the same page, making comparison and contrast easier. Glassberg has provided all information on facing pages: range map and text on the left, photos on the right. There is no need to flip to another page. The introductory text contains useful information on conservation issues, habitat, photography and tips for improving field skills and sight identification. Glassberg's mission, as founder and President of the North American Butterfly Association, has been to promote the nonconsumptive enjoyment of butterflies by the public. This field guide, and its companion Butterflies through Binouclars: the East, do the job. ... Read more

Book Description

- Raise your own butterflies!

- Create a butterfly habitat o 15 projects and activities

- Close-ups of 40 favorite North American butterflies

Everyone enjoys seeing butterflies flitting about on a warm summer day, but few people realize that ma ... Read more

Reviews (5)

My kids love this book & so do I!
My 3 year old sat & studied this book for hours, literally! I am completely fascinated by all the facts & pictures in the book, & have had fun learning about butterflies along with my kids. We have caught 3 caterpillars since first reading this book, & have released one swallowtail after it emerged from its chrysalis. What fun!

Lots of information and projects for families
This book is unbelievable. The paper is glossy and heavyweight. There are photographs throughout. The text is interspersed with sidebars, tidbits, and photographs.

Mikula dispels myths such as the one about butterflies will die if you touch their wings. Easy to understand information is given about the life cycle of the butterfly with photographs of every stage. How to raise butterflies in various ways, even how to catch butterflies in the wild and help them mate are given in such easy to follow methods that Mikula has me believing I can do this! Project instructions for making a homemade butterfly net and a hanging butterfly cage are included. We even learn how to properly hold a butterfly and how to hand feed them! I thought only butterfly specialist-scientists could do this stuff! You will be surprised to learn that not only does Mikula recommend raising butterflies to release into the wild, but also raising them indoors and letting them fly around your house (and never go outdoors)!

Information about the plants, shrubs and trees that the caterpillars and butterflies need is provided, which plant material for which species of butterfly is all outlined. Mikula explains that the use of herbicides and pesticides as being poisonous to butterflies and encourages organic gardening. Some garden designs for butterfly gardens are provided.

Mikula's passion for butterflies is apparent throughout the book as the text just cries out his enthusiasm. There are so many detailed hints and tips such as what color clothing to wear when approaching butterflies in the wild, to not use fabric softener when approaching butterflies, and that the wooden butterfly boxes don't work as their sellers would have you believe. And did you know that butterflies would benefit from a water source in your yard? Of course full instructions for the best water feature for butterflies is given.

Full color illustrations of different species of butterflies are provided with illustrations of not only the butterfly, but the caterpillar, larvae, eggs, and chrysalis. This is along with listing of the host plants, nectar plants, size and the regions they live in. This section comprises about 50 pages of the book and is very helpful.

This book is a great reference to learn about butterflies and a great source of butterfly projects.. Of course you can take the plunge and go full tilt and raise your own butterflies! If you choose to do so, all the information is right here.

Must-have for Butterfly Loving Families!
If you have a child in your family that loves butterflies, this is a book you must own. Rick Mikula covers every aspect of butterflies in the colorful pages. You'll learn ways to raise butterflies at home with your family, best ways to watch them, plants they like and so much more!

I am a nature center director. We use this book all the time. We give copies to our volunteers, show it to families that come in to see our butterfly displays, recommend it to teachers, and use the ideas included on a regular basis.

If you ever have the opportunity to see Rick Mikula speak, don't miss it! Once you meet the "grandfather of butterflies," you'll be hooked on butterflies forever!

Gorgeous and special!
I didn't know there was a grandfather of butterfly farming, but I found this book and what a gem it is! This detailed book is a beautiful guide to learning about butterflies. The author provides information about butterflies and then shows how to attract and study them. The experience is quite extensive and provides projects to enhance creative study. Fantastic for home and classroom!

The BEST Book on Butterfly Gardening!!!
I could go on and on about this book! It's a wealth of information for the beginning butterfly gardener! Great info, colorful pictures, everything you need to know to get started attracting butterflies into your yard. Highly reccomended reading! :o) ... Read more

Book Description

This magnificent field guide is the latest addition to the exciting series that is revolutionizing the way we look at butterflies. Greatly expanding on Butterflies Through Binoculars: The Boston-New York-Washington Region--identified by Defenders of Wildlife Magazine as "the first to focus on netless butterflying" and called " a clear winner" by the Audubon Naturalist--Glassberg here shows us how to find, identify, and enjoy all of the butterflies native to the eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. This guide:

*Combines the immediacy and vividness of actual photographs of living butterflies with the traditional field guide format

*Emphasizes conservation over collection

*Includes 630 color photographs, arranged on 72 color plates, of butterflies in the wild

*Provides adjacent color maps that show where each species occurs in a given locality and for how much of the year

*Supplies entirely new field marks for butterfly identification

*Demonstrates how to identify subjects by way of the key characteristics butterflies are likely to display in their natural settings

*Shows how species can be recognized both from above and below

*Explains how to differentiate between males and females.

For butterfly enthusiasts, for bird watchers who want to add a new dimension to their hobby, for anyone who is simply interested in exploring the wilds of their own back yard, this new field guide offers hours of delightful help and instruction. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Best Butterfly id book!
Without comparison, this is the best butterfly id book around. It is really easy to navigate and find specific butterflies quickly, even for the novice. It has maps as well as larval foods for the different butterflies. Quite complete. I keep it sitting right here on my desk so that when I see a butterfly flitter by I can run outside and id it. Its also has tips on identifying butterflies that may look similar which is helpful. I'd buy it again for sure!

Best book out there right now.
If you are interested in butterflies on any scale, you must have this book! The pictures are really good for comparison in the field. A must have for anyone who participates in butterfly counts. This book will make you addicted to watching butterflies like it did me! Be careful! :-)

Solid primer, somewhat awkward field guide
This book provides perhaps the best available set of basic instructions for butterfly watching. As some of the other reviews mention, it's not just a field guide; it's also a very thorough and pleasing introduction to how to go about the hobby. What type of binocs to choose (close focus please) is, for example, the sort of basic thing it covers well.

That being said, Butterflies through Binoculars shares a lot of the same traits I find mildly frustrating in the current set of Audubon's bird guides. It uses photographs, which I've always found less useful than thoughtful artist's drawings in my bird books. All the plates, moreover, are stacked together in front of the book. Maybe others find it handy to flip through pictures only, but I'd much rather see things like the better bird guides do it: color plates on one side, succinct species description with range map on the other. Whenever I use a guide like this in the field I end up flipping back and forth in my field guide like I can't make up my mind.

For that reason, I'd recommend this as an introductory title, but I'd say we're still waiting for a really wonderful field guide.

One of the Best Field Guides!
An absolute must have! Glassberg, who is president of the North American Butterfly Association, shares his knowledge of these delicate creatures and makes identifcation easy and fun. Includes 625 color photos (most by Glassberg) of free-flying butterflies. The first butterfly guide to use plates showing correct size relationships among species. Also features sections on binoculars, photography, biology, conservation, and gardening. You won't be sorry you purchased this fine book!

I Agree-- This One Makes it Easy and Fun
Yes, this is a superior field guide, whether one is collecting or watching. And, the texts are also pithy and contain some great and timely information on the butterflies and especially conservations situations. The butterfly enthusiast crowd is lucky to have had such an upsurge in interest in its subject, and Glassberg is to be credited with kindling much of this. Speaking of Butterflies through Binoculars-- a wonderful narrative about same, through the binoculars of history, is the recent Nabokov's Blues by Kurt Johnson, another prominent lepidopterist. Its time to look at butterflies, appreciate them, and increase our knowledge as well. Get out with Glassberg's book and then go home and read some "sit-down" informative entomology. Enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the first and only guide to a subject of great interest to gardeners, small children, and lepidopterists: caterpillars, the immature form of butterflies and moths. This guide describes 120 common species of these fuzzy creatures. All the caterpillars, their adult forms and many of their host plants are illustrated. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Very Comprehensive and Useful!
Our childrens librarian recommended this book to us and it has been so helpful. We are always finding caterpillars, cocoons, butterflies and have found the illustrations in this book very helpful in identifying them. My son is five and the illustrations are good enough so that he can identify the caterpillars and butterflies even though he can't read yet. I would highly recommend this guide!

Great reference book on Caterpillars
Our 6-year old daughter is a budding entomologist, and has been fascinated with butterflies in particuluar for the last two years. Each spring she has a great time running around our garden collecting caterpillars and raising them into butterflies. The problem we always had was how to identify them before they actually became butterflies...

Well, this book is a great help in that respect. It lays out the various broad categories of caterpillars in order to simplify identification. A very nice feature is that it also often includes information on the plant species that both the caterpillar and the adult butterfly feed upon.

Also, a great small size - perfect as a "field guide". We keep a copy in the glove box of our VW camper so that it is always handy on family outings.

The Only Caterpillar Field Guide!
If you've been looking for a book to help you identify caterpillars, you may have noticed that field guides for butterflies and moths are nearly useless in this regard. Entomologists don't seem to be nearly as fascinated with the larvae of these creatures as they are with the adults. But this is the guide you've been looking for! Although the First Guides are written for children, this book is suitable for adults as well and is by no means remedial. The book is made to take along at 3 3/4x7 1/4 inches in size and 128 pages long. It begins with an introduction to caterpillars which explains their structure, life cycle, protective mechanisms, and gives brief instructions for attracting and caring for caterpillars. This is followed by pictures and descriptions of 120 caterpillars. Each caterpillar is clearly illustrated for easy identification. Illustrations of the adult moths and butterflies are included, so you will know what the little critter will turn into. (All illustrations are drawings.) There is a description of each caterpillar which includes details of its appearance, size, diet, and where it is found. A few caterpillars that are dangerous to handle are marked with don't-handle signs. (They won't kill you; they cause skin irritation, pain, and rashes, at worst.)

Recommended for everyone who would like to know just what those caterpillars are and what they will become. A great gift for kids who like the outdoors. The book's only real shortcoming is that it is not comprehensive. We can always hope that the publisher will add more species in a later edition. In the meantime, this guide will enable you to identify most common species of caterpillar.

Good beginners guides.
I foun this one a very good book, it doesnt have any photos, but color illustrations are very descriptive and useful.
Its a must have for beginners because you will find almost any caterpillar out therem of course so many of them are not in this book, but the common ones seen around there are in this book.
You wont find any problem to identify among them, they are very well differenced in the book.

It is a good book considering its size, and its price, youll find it practical.

Wonderful
The kids have a wonderful time identifying all those catterpillers. They used to bring each one to me to help them identify what they were. Now they can do it themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

This magnificently illustrated volume does double-duty as a field guide and a handsome reference volume. It shows more than 500 butterfly species and instructs nature lovers on how to identify each of them. Organized into the major butterfly family groups, the book's easy-reference format points out the key characteristics that identify each butterfly type, and describes its habitat, life cycle, and migration season. Every entry is presented with an at-a-glance guide to the butterfly's size, location of origin, and conservation status. A detailed color photo of each specimen clearly shows its unique, intricate markings. Nature lovers and butterfly collectors will find practical tips for locating and studying these beautiful and fragile insects in the wild. More than 500 magnificent color photos and reliable descriptive text combine to make this a must-own reference guide for butterfly enthusiasts everywhere. ... Read more

Book Description

A delightful look at the science of butterflies-and our obsession with them-by an acclaimed nature writer.

Butterflies have always served as a metaphor for resurrection and transformation, but as Sharman Apt Russell points out in this lyrical meditation, butterflies are above all objects of obsession. She reveals the logic behind our endless fascination with butterflies and introduces us to the legendary collectors and dedicated scientists who have obsessively catalogued new species of Lepidoptera. A luminous journey through an exotic world of passion and strange beauty, this is a book to be treasured by anyone who has ever experienced the enchantment of butterflies. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Full of Color, Full of Life
We generally do not like insects; when they come to our notice, it is usually because they irritate, pain, or impoverish us. But everyone loves butterflies, and everyone has done so since early childhood. They are fascinating natural specimens, and their colors fill us with admiration and wonder. It isn't surprising that they have caused obsessions in many people in many centuries. In _An Obsession with Butterflies: Our Long Love Affair with a Singular Insect_ (Perseus Publishing), Sharman Apt Russell has packed some taxonomy of butterflies, and also biology, but also a history about the obsessed and a chronicle of butterfly culture. Russell reveals that she is obsessed herself, but her obsession translates into an enthusiastic and poetic look at science and history that is full of life and color.

Anyone who reads this book will come away with admiration for the cleverness of tactics which evolution has given to butterflies. Caterpillars are especially vulnerable in a world that is out to get them; fungi, pathogens, wasps, ants, birds, and lizards all find caterpillars a tasty meal (oh, and humans, too). The Western Tiger Swallowtail's caterpillar is only a speck when it comes out of the egg, but as it grows and molts, it takes on the appearance of a bird's droppings. No one is interested in bird droppings. Caterpillars have enemies, but friends, too; some have developed a symbiosis with ant colonies. The butterflies get protection and nourishment, and the ants get honeydew secreted by the caterpillars. The color of butterflies may be enchanting to us, but like all the other characteristics of the insect, it is merely an evolutionary tool. Often males are more brightly colored than females; they are attracted to the drab coloration of females and repelled by the bright males, so that they spend their time with the right group to get the genes into the next generation. Darker colors help high altitude butterflies keep warm. Eyespots scare birds. Bright colors warn of unpalatability. Edible butterflies mimic toxic ones, and toxic ones mimic each other, just to make sure the birds got a clear message.

It isn't just butterflies that are examined in this book; humans are pinned here, too. Lady Glanville sent cases and cases of butterfly specimens in the early eighteenth century for the naturalists to record and keep. When she died, the will was voided because she was thought to be insane over butterflies; she would beat the hedges for "a parcel of wormes," neighbors reported. One entomologist admitted, "None but those deprived of their Senses would go in Pursuit of butterflyes." Among those similarly deprived of their senses was Lord Walter Rothschild, who hired an army of professional species-stalkers to collect butterflies from all over the world. He donated over two million specimens to the British museum. His niece Miriam was famous for producing a six-volume inventory of her father's flea collection, but she demonstrated how Monarch caterpillars become toxic by storing the poisons of milkweed plants. She wrote that butterflies are like dream flowers "...which have broken loose from their stalks and escaped into the sunshine. Air and angels." We have pinned these angels, collected them, categorized them, and studied them for hundreds of years, and they are still full of surprises. Russell's book, too, is full of surprises; did you know that the male Tiger Swallowtail has eyes on his genitals to guide them into just the right slot on the female? Readers of Russell's elegant and poetic (yet fact-filled) book will have a new appreciation for the insect that humans love.

Rewarding and entertaining read
I picked up this slim volume for a quick read and was treated to a meditation on the subject of butterfly species, as well as the insect and plant world. The book overflows with information, but the wealth of details never seems dry or textbookish. I laughed out loud at times with the insights about the subject's mating and survival behaviors revealed with wonderfully wry comparisons to everyday events. I'm left with the feeling that while seemingly a fluke of nature ("if all butterflies disappeared so would a few flowers-but not many"), the butterfly fits in nature's web through complex relationships with the plants and insects that inhabit its domain: Ants that become the children to the caterpillar's Pied Piper and plants whose leaves mimic the appearance of ones that have been ravaged by the caterpillar. And perhaps, most telling our own relationship to these singular creatures: as eccentrics, as collectors, as art appreciators, as naturalists, and as scientists. I count myself among a select group of those who have taken the time to learn about the natural world from the point of view of the butterfly. This is the rare book that is greater than the sum of the details due to the author's exceptional, wide-angle approach to a multifaceted puzzle. A pleasure to read for the humor and insight.

A Lyrical Exploration
This lyrical exploration of butterflies has an amazing range. The author's depth and breadth of research is equaled by her ability to sweep us into a very special world, the world of those who are obsessed with butterflies. Butterfly biology and ecology, the focus of this book, are clearly presented in beautiful language. The details of butterfly anatomy and behavior are sometimes bizarre and always interesting.

The author adds depth to the book by including the human view of butterflies. Her profiles of contemporary and historical scientists and ordinary people who have been obsessed with butterflies are riveting. (Some of the people are as peculiar as the insects!) She includes the incredible variety of meanings that societies have assigned to butterflies and moths. I had a hard time putting down this unusual blend of science, biography and mythology.

Truly a love affair with butterflies
Before reading An Obsession with Butterflies, a butterfly was something that caught my attention as it flitted across a meadow. Russell's beautiful writing and in-depth research makes high level science accessible while still keeping the focus on the wonder of nature. This book not only increased my knowledge about the life events and diversity of butterflies but gave me insight into the what butterflies have meant to mankind across cultures and to individuals both obsessed and enthralled with these beautiful creatures. This is a great book for expanding your perspective on many fronts.

A Pleasure to Read Such Smart and Stunning Prose
I love this book! Where else would I learn that most butterflies taste with their feet, that a stage of caterpillar life is an "instar," and that ghost plants really do exist? As a poet, I appreciate the rhythm of Russell's lines. I learned not only about butterflies but also about the eccentric characters, Lepidopterists, that explore the world in search of new species. However, it is the way Russell connects us with the Painted Lady and the sex life of the Sharp Whites that I most admire. She bridges our daily lives with that of artful instruments of flight in such a way that we can't help but be changed for the better by the wisdom this book brings. An Obsession with Butterflies makes me glad to be alive. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Accessible?
The jacket blurb says this series comprises the most "accessible recognition guides." I'm not sure what that means, nor am I sure who this book is intended for but it wasn't me, nor, I suspect, any average backyard nature observer.

The illustrations are beautiful but as an identification guide it is totally useless. First, it is too inclusive. Butterflies and moths from the entire world are included, making its applicability limited. Worse, the insects are arranged not by color, size, habitat, or similar factor, but by their zoological family! If I were knowledgeable enough to have this information at my disposal, I probably wouldn't need a guide book. Finally, very few of the insects have an illustration of the caterpillar stage included.

My recommendation: if you want to identify moths or buttereflies, look for another guide. ... Read more

Book Description

Peterson First Guides are the first books the beginning naturalist needs.Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see.They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

We have a butterfly bush
We love to sit and watch the moths bees and butterflys come to our bushes (we actually have 7). With this book we have been able to identify the moths and butterflies.

A wonderful intro book!
This introductory field guide is much, much better than the old Little Golden Guide" that beginning Lepidoptrists (butterfly lovers) have relied on in the past. I wish I had had the new First Guide version a kid! It shows accurate color drawings of the most common species, along with the food plants and, in some cases, the other life stages such as larvae and pupae.

I especially like the fact that it includes so many moths -- not just the showy ones like Cecropias and Lunas that beginners dream about but seldom find -- but some of the little gray and brown ones, too, such as might show up any evening around your yard light. Plus, I finally found out that a grayish day-flying moth with a metallic-blue body that I see around here all the tiime is callled a "Southern Ctenucha."

As a Master Gardener volunteer, I currently recommend this to 4H-ers (and adults, too) who are just getting started in entomology. It's easy to use, and the light pocket size makes it nice for children to carry on field trips. Buy it along with "First Guide to Caterpillars" in the same series (which I have also reviewed here on Amazon). ... Read more

Book Description

This is a new addition to Glassberg's celebrated Butterflies through Binoculars series of field guides. As such, it rivals his earlier--and highly popular--Field and Finding Guide to Butterflies of the Boston-New York-Washington Region by providing an intensive focus on the butterflies and best butterflying sites for another highly populated and heavily traveled region. This time, the terrain in question is the state of Florida--one of the leading tourist destinations in the world.

Butterfly enthusiasts, nature lovers, and curious general readers will perhaps be surprised to learn that Florida's butterfly fauna is unique--and that, until the appearance of this volume, there has been no adequate field guide for the butterflies of this region. This guide simplifies identification by illustrating only species found in Florida--using superb photographs of live butterflies coupled with detailed range maps and identification data. It also offers, with unprecedented detail, much information on flight times and abundances for each of five Florida subregions, including reports on seventy localities in which to find butterflies. Lastly, discussions of the foodplants for each species along with suggestions for attracting these species to one's garden make this work invaluable for all Florida gardeners interested in butterflies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply Superb
This is one of the best presented field guides I have ever seen. Each and every species of Florida butterfly is pictured and described. Most butterfly guides I've seen use pictures of preserved specimens in a collection. This can be confusing because parts of the wings normally hidden are exposed when the collected specimen is mounted. This book avoids this problem by using only pictures taken in the wild (except for a few rare species). No more unnatural poses!

The text is easily readable without extensive knowledge of obscure scientific words and has enough humor to keep it from getting dry and technical, but not so much that it overpowers the book.

This book deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in Florida butterflies.

Best field guide for butterflies of the northeast
If you are looking for a filed guide to the butterflies of the northeastern United States, this is THE book to get. Written for a relatively small geographical area, the book contains only those butterflies likely to be seen in the regioon...unlike other guidebooks which offer many photos of butterflies not native to the regioon you are in. Excellent photos and the reduced subject area result in quick identifications. Although written for the northeast, the book is useful over a wider range...I have even used it in Texas to great effect. Don't put too much stock in the information about flight period and abundance, though. And don't expect much info on larval hostplants, etc ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Jewels of the Night
Moths generally get bad press. We think of clothes moths, tomato hornworm moths, cutworms, armyworms, bollworms, codling moths and the like before we think of io moths, luna moths, underwings or tiger moths. Butterflies, their daytime cousins (although as Himmelman points out there are a fair number of day-flying moths) are much more loved and studied.

John Himmelman, in writing "Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard," has done much to redress this imbalance. His drawings and excellent photographs make this book a work of aesthetic beauty as well as a fascinating read.

Himmelman also discusses an interesting trend- the study of living insects, such as butterflies and dragonflies, has started to become at least as popular as collecting the same insects (in butterflies more so!). He sees a similar trend (but much slower) for moths. The last chapter of his book is in fact one of the better discussions of the ethics of taking of insect life for science or pleasure that I've ever read. While he does not like collecting himself, he understands the impulse, as well as the scientific interest. Unlike many butterflies (except skippers and some lycaenids - I know this from much experience as I am a participant and also an editor for the 4th of July Butterfly Count of the North American Butterfly Association), it is often difficult to identify moths (although it can be done to a degree). This is partly because of the shear number of species involved (11,000 species of moths in North America as opposed to about 700 or so butterflies), partly because of the similarity of many closely related moth species and partly because not all moths are yet known. Thus judicious collecting has its place. Still I have always thought in my more reflective moods that collecting should be only a prelude to study of the living insect. Like Himmelman I cannot condemn collecting (I am currently curating a collection of over 100,000 specimens at a state university and I was at one time an avid tiger beetle collector) but I do think that observation has a place and that place should be more exulted than it often is, without putting down the continuing contribution of the collector and taxonomist.

This is a great book for the entomologist and especially for those who like to explore new areas within the subject. There are unfortunately few books on moths. We are still awaiting a guide to western moths to match the Peterson Field Guide to the eastern species, and the Moth Book, by Holland, is way out of date- although still charming. Himmelman has gone a long ways down this road and I only hope more books like this will appear in the near future!

Fantastic overview
I'm new to learning about moths and was overwhelmed by some ofthe more techical id books - this one gives a terrific overview of the different families with beautiful pictures and drawings. There's even some moth poetry sprinkled in. There are chapters on moths through the seasons, history of moth study/people who have been key in id, moths during the day versus night, raising moths, and more. I just love it - just the intro I needed to be able to approach some of the other books with more of a grounding. The writing is very straightfoward, easy and fun to read.

I discovered moths!
As an avid butterfly watcher and birder, I couldn't help but notice the occasional moth while on my forays. I always found them interesting, and even picked up an old field guide to begin to learn them. While doing an internet search for moths, I discovered Mr. Himmelman's book and ordered it.

It arrived in the morning and by early evening I had read it cover to cover! Good thing it was a Saturday - Wow! While the topic is of moths, Himmelman could have been writing about any creature. His curiosity is contageous and he is a comfortable, and often humorous, guide to have accompany you through this topic. I feel like I know him.

I also love the line drawings sprinkled generously throughout (one shows godzilla going after mothra) and his beautiful photos! To the best of my knowledge there is no other book out there (I looked) that treats the "nightime jewels" with such passion, humor, and out and out information.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in nature. ... Read more

Book Description

This newly designed field guide features descriptions of 524 species of butterflies.One hundred color photographs as well as 348 color range maps accompany the species descriptions. The 541 exquisite color paintings clearly show even the most minute field marks. Introductory chapters include information on butterfly gardening, habitats, and conservation. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

We think Its Great!
I got this from my son who needed a field guide to take to the park and forests. He loves it and so do I. Before we had borrowed our local libraries' 1950 edition of butterfly field guild. What an improvement! Unlike some people we just love it. The pictures are easy to use in the open where you can just notice a few things before whats being observed takes off flying. Opler is very good at listing the most obvious ID factors for each species. And it fits great in a back pack!

Practically Useless
Teensy-weentsy photographs (of which there are few) and tiny drawings do not an identification tool make. Often, the verbal descriptions given for a butterfly do not match, nay, directly contradict the photograph or drawing included! The practice of providing a textual description on one page, a range map (if there even is one) on another, and yet a third page for the descriptive drawing make this a page-turning nightmare.

In short, take this book from your public library - don't waste your money on a very poorly done work.

ok for a field guide, if you don't mind getting frustrated.
As an amateur watcher just wanting to know which butterflies were in my garden, I was somewhat disappointed. I spent a great deal of time trying to compare the butterfly with the poorly represented plates. The few pictures scattered through the book were better, but I found errors in the identification given for the picture and the identification given in the plate and one was even not listed on the page they gave (or no where I have yet to find). The range listed were difficult for me to know if this species was in my backyard and not every species had a range map. These errors I found in one whole afternoon while trying to identify only THREE butterflies in my garden. Some of the book I like, like some of the intro information, but I guess other books have this info also. I was frustrated.