Author: Valerio Sbordoni Publisher: Willowdale, Ont. : Firefly Books ISBN: Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 320
Book Description
Listing of butterfly species accompanied by illustrations placing the members of the order within their specific eco-systems and explains how all the elements--flora and fauna, climate, altitude, predators, migratory habits--identify a species and explain its evolution.
Author: Adrian Hoskins Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN: 9781421427171 Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 416
Book Description
A unique global survey that touches on all butterfly families and subfamilies while celebrating their immense beauty and great diversity, Butterflies of the World is an essential reference and the best book of its kind.
Author: Wendy Williams Publisher: Simon and Schuster ISBN: 1501178083 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 256
Book Description
In this “deeply personal and lyrical book” (Publishers Weekly) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Horse, Wendy Williams explores the lives of one of the world’s most resilient creatures—the butterfly—shedding light on the role that they play in our ecosystem and in our human lives. “[A] glorious and exuberant celebration of these biological flying machines…Williams takes us on a humorous and beautifully crafted journey” (The Washington Post). From butterfly gardens to zoo exhibits, these “flying flowers” are one of the few insects we’ve encouraged to infiltrate our lives. Yet, what has drawn us to these creatures in the first place? And what are their lives really like? In this “entertaining look at ‘the world’s favorite insect’” (Booklist, starred review), New York Times bestselling author and science journalist Wendy Williams reveals the inner lives of these delicate creatures, who are far more intelligent and tougher than we give them credit for. Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles each year from Canada to Mexico. Other species have learned how to fool ants into taking care of them. Butterflies’ scales are inspiring researchers to create new life-saving medical technology. Williams takes readers to butterfly habitats across the globe and introduces us to not only various species, but “digs deeply into the lives of both butterflies and [the] scientists” (Science magazine) who have spent decades studying them. Coupled with years of research and knowledge gained from experts in the field, this accessible “butterfly biography” explores the ancient partnership between these special creatures and humans, and why they continue to fascinate us today. “Informative, thought-provoking,” (BookPage, starred review) and extremely profound, The Language of Butterflies is a “fascinating book [that] will be of interest to anyone who has ever admired a butterfly, and anyone who cares about preserving these stunning creatures” (Library Journal).
Author: Kjell Sandved Publisher: Bulfinch ISBN: 9780821228937 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 432
Book Description
Butterfly enthusiasts will delight in the 200 vivid images from across the globe, accompanied by informative and engaging text from preeminent writers in the field.
Author: Sally Morgan Publisher: ISBN: 9780754818847 Category : Butterflies Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
Adored for their beauty and variety, butterflies and moths captivate nature enthusiasts all over the world. Yet these exquisite insects, which comprise the animal grouping Lepidoptera, are not only attractive to watch but are of immense biological importance. They are both pollinators, and scientific ?indicators? of changing levels of light, heat and availability of food ? meaning that some species are the subject of intense scientific study. Despite challenges posed by shrinking forests and open spaces, many butterflies and moths are adapting well to their changing habitats, proving that ? despite their seemingly fragile appearance ? they are ingeniously equipped to deal with a range of environmental factors. This superb visual resource profiles some of the world's best-loved and most intriguing butterflies, moths and skippers, with a geographically-split directory of 600 detailed entries, each containing useful identification summaries and quick-reference panels on distribution, habitat, food, wingspan and status. The majority of species are realized in exceptional full-colour artworks, from full-body illustrations to drawings depicting detail such as the pattern on the reverse side of the wings, recognizable when the creature is resting, as well as unusual markings and pupae. Butterflies in particular can be immensely variable and some have evolved deceptive (and defensive) physical traits which mean they can become confused with other species. Read, for example, about the sub-Saharan common graphium, which has the power to mimic a poisonous butterfly from another family, or the blood-red glider, immensely valued among collectors for its rich red colour. Some species are well-travelled, such as the familiar coppers whose light-catching wings can be seen in habitats as widespread as Europe, central Asia and China. Others, such as South America's giant swallowtail ? a rainforest species with wings spanning some 250mm/10in ? are being placed under increasing pressure by the collapse of their very specialized habitats. Moths remain mysterious to many people, and are often perceived, at best, as little worthy of attention, or, at worst, as pests. Yet this insect group, which contains both day- and night-fliers, displays unique and varied forms of behaviour that makes them endlessly interesting to observe. With coverage of both day- and night-flying species, the reader can learn all about the colourful cinnabar moth, whose caterpillars turn cannibal during food shortages, or the puss and tiger moths, whose hindwings may suddenly display flashes of ?warning? colour to deter threats. The aptly-named hummingbird hawk moth is a nature lover's favourite for its ability to feed, hovering, at the heads of flowers. Then there are the silk moths ? domesticated by collectors for centuries ? and the skippers, predominantly grassland-dwellers who occupy the evolutionary middle ground between butterflies and moths. A superb photographic reference section covers the life cycle of all of these creatures, with detailed descriptions of internal anatomy and the powerful structure of the wings. There are stunning close-up images of compound eyes and feeding equipment, as well as information on classification and life cycle ? including hibernation habits ? plus evolutionary characteristics such as melanism, camouflage and mimickry. For those who want to get closer, there are tips on how to attract moths and butterflies to your own backyard, the type of species you are likely to see in nearby habitats, and take part in conserving species at local level. With a total of 1000 colour photographs, artworks and maps, and containing meticulously researched and accessible text throughout, this is the essential companion for butterfly and moth enthusiasts everywhere.
Author: Rita Mabel Schiavo Publisher: White Star Kids ISBN: 9788854412750 Category : Butterflies Languages : en Pages : 64
Book Description
We can see them fly gracefully from flower to flower with their multi-coloured wings: they are butterflies, the most admired and collected of insects; like bees, they are vital for plant pollination, which is why we have recently started protecting them as their numbers are significantly dwindling. Through this book you will get to know them better, explore their physiology, their defence and reproduction mechanisms and their most noteworthy features, and uncover the secrets behind the complicated patterns and amazing colours that characterize their appearance. We will also focus on the dangers that these wonderful insects face today due to pollution and human intervention that is putting at serious risk the life of a species that we need to protect at any cost, for example by following the instructions at the end of the book that explain how to set out your garden or balcony in order to attract - and help - these most heavenly insects. AGES: 6 plus AUTHOR: Rita Mabel Schiavo Graduated in Biological Sciences, specialising in Natural Sciences at the University of Milan, has a major interest in the fields of herpetology and eco-ethology. She is one of the founding members and directors of ADM -Teaching in Museums Association- and ADMaiora, which both work in education and learning in museums, natural parks, oases and exhibitions.
Author: Dennis W. Schlicht Publisher: University of Iowa Press ISBN: 1587297612 Category : Nature Languages : en Pages : 249
Book Description
This beautiful and comprehensive guide, many years in the making, is a manual for identifying the butterflies of Iowa as well as 90 percent of the butterflies in the Plains states. It begins by providing information on the natural communities of Iowa, paying special attention to butterfly habitat and distribution. Next come chapters on the history of lepidopteran research in Iowa and on creating butterfly gardens, followed by an intriguing series of questions and issues relevant to the study of butterflies in the state. The second part contains accounts, organized by family, for the 118 species known to occur in Iowa. Each account includes the common and scientific names for each species, its Opler and Warren number, its status in Iowa, adult flight times and number of broods per season, distinguishing features, distribution and habitat, and natural history information such as behavior and food plant preferences. As a special feature of each account, the authors have included questions that illuminate the research and conservation challenges for each species. In the third section, the illustrations, grouped for easier comparison among species, include color photographs of all the adult forms that occur in Iowa. Male and female as well as top and bottom views are shown for most species. The distribution maps indicate in which of Iowa’s ninety-nine counties specimens have been collected; flight times for each species are shown by marking the date of collection for each verified specimen on a yearly calendar. The book ends with a checklist, collection information specific to the photographs, a glossary, references, and an index. The authors’ meticulous attention to detail, stimulating questions for students and researchers, concern for habitat preservation, and joyful appreciation of the natural world make it a valuable and inspiring volume.