The Butterflies of the West Indies and South Florida [Hardcover]

David Spencer Smith (Author), Lee D. Miller (Author), Jacqueline Y. Miller (Author), Richard Lewington (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 1994

This beautifully illustrated book offers a comprehensive guide to the more than six hundred butterfly species/subspecies found in the West Indies and southern Florida. Beginning with an historical overview which surveys possible origins, the size of island faunas, and conservation problems, the book proceeds to individual descriptions of each butterfly, from family to sub-species. Descriptions highlight each species' range, West Indian distribution (including numerous new island records), key identification features, observations on habitat choice and field behavior, and life history information. A taxonomic checklist, a list of plant genera families used as larval foodplants, an extensive bibliography, and a helpful index are also included. The book features the exquisite illustrations of Richard Lewington, all of which are presented in full color, many for the first time. Professional and amateur lepidopterists, zoologists, biogeographers, and natural historians will want this book for their libraries.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'the whole presentation is excellent; the considerable contribution of knowledge from the authors' personal experiences, and the perfect coloured plates make this a quite outstanding work' B.K. West, Entomologist's Record, Vol. 106, 1994

'All in all a very worthy work, which will interest every collector working in the area of American fauna.' Udo Luy, Galathea 10/2, 1994

`It has taken a long time for another book on the butterflies of the West Indies to be produced, but it has been worth waiting for. It contains an authoritative treatment of the species (without being dogmatic on taxonomic issues), a wealth of detail and personal observations which make it readable in its own right, and excellent colour plates of the adult butterflies. This book will be the authoritative treatment of the butterflies of the Caribbean for years to come. It has a wealth of information on the distribution and biology of the species and will be a valuable source book in this respect for collectors, biologists, ecologists, conservationists and biogeographers.' Matthew J.W. Cook, International Institute of Biolgical Control, Ascot

`excellent for identifying the species ... thoroughly recommended as an authoritative and attractive guide to the butterflies of this most important area, and it will make a substantial contribution in the current debate about biodiversity ... it will succeed admirably' Mark Young, University of Aberdeen, Journal of Tropical Ecology

About the Author

David Spencer Smith, Hope Professor of Entomology, University Museum, Oxford. Lee D. Miller, Curator, Allyn Museum of Entomology, Florida. Jacqueline Y. Miller, Associate Curator, Allyn Museum of Entomology, Florida.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 346 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198571992
• ISBN-13: 978-0198571995
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,149,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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