The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History [Hardcover]

Philip J. Devries (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0691028907 | ISBN-13: 978-0691028903

This field guide, a sequel to the volume on Papilionidae, Pieridae and Nymphalidae, provides detailed treatment of over 250 species of Costa Rican butterflies in the family Riodinidae. The means to identify riodinid butterflies to species are given, as are their natural history. The guide illustrates nearly all of the Costa Rican species in colour and provides a large sample of detailed line drawings and scanning electron micrographs of riodinid early stages. The book's coverage should make 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, behaviour, 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 on the basis of our understanding of

Editorial Reviews

Review

Invaluable to anyone studying the butterflies of the Neotropics.
(New Scientist ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

A massive storehouse of superb natural history. For butterfly collectors and naturalists generally, there are excellent pieces about the study of natural history, conservation in the neotropics, and the preservation of biological diversity. New students and seasoned scholars alike will find generous suggestions of research projects--even in the individual species accounts.
(Henry S. Horn, Princeton University ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr (March 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691028907
• ISBN-13: 978-0691028903
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,540,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not meant for your daypack, April 7, 2002

By 

Martin Pruimers (Spijkenisse Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History, Vol. II: Riodinidae (Paperback)

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Butterflies for the whole family, June 10, 2001

By 

G. Markovic "Cricket" (Lawrenceville, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History, Vol. II: Riodinidae (Paperback)

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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Butterfly Museum, January 30, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Butterflies of Costa Rica and Their Natural History (Hardcover)

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.