A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (Special Publication / Virginia Museum of Natural History) (Paperback)

~ Charles V. Covell Jr. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America, Charles V. Covell, Jr.’s classic guide to the moths of the states and provinces east of the 100th meridian, has been reissued by the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Originally published by Houghton-Mifflin Co. in 1984, this title has been out of print since 1996. The book has been updated to reflect the current status of species, genera, and families of moths that it includes. Moths . . . has long been recognized as the most authoritative introduction to the moths of eastern North America. Intended for nonspecialists, but greatly appreciated by intermediate and advanced users, this book identifies and describes more than 1300 species in 59 families. The 1300 species, which include at least one in each of the 59 families present in the region, are those most likely to be encountered in eastern North America. Introductory chapters describe the anatomy and life cycle of moths and processes of collecting and preparing specimens. For each species, the book includes a description during the adult stage, the range as it was known in 1984, the flight season for adults, their relative abundance, and selected other information. Individual moths are portrayed from above, with wings extended, in 63 plates, many in color, while selected anatomical features, primarily wing shape and venation patterns, are illustrated in 76 black-and-white line drawings and photographs. Back and end matter includes a glossary of technical terms, generalized anatomical drawings, silhouettes of living moths at rest, and selected references and sources of additional information.

About the Author

Charles V. Covell, Jr., is Curator of Moths and Senior Research Scientist at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Product Details

• Paperback: 518 pages
• Publisher: Virginia Museum of Natural History; 2 edition (July 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884549217
• ISBN-13: 978-1884549212
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #891,349 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (Special Publication / Virginia Museum of Natural History), February 24, 2006

By	Nancy L. Cotton (Blairstown, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Excellent source guide to moths of the Eastern United States. The photos in this edition lack clarity and need to be printed better. The author is superb. He is the authority in his field. All that is lacking is quality printing of the material.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful, but disappointing., July 8, 2006

By	Scott V. Carter "pavel321" (Ohio) - See all my reviews

The reference text is very complete and detailed. However, when I found that most of the photo plates were black and white, I groaned. What I imagined I'd be receiving was a field guide with a good photo with each entry. As it is you have to flip back and forth from text to plate. A book with photo plates is really "old school" these days.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recently out of print, this is the best way to go!, February 1, 2006

By	Kenneth H. Sutherland (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the same classic Moths that Peterson Guides put out, only it's in the format of the Robert Anthony style guides that came out in the late '80s. White and a single color with a photo on the front. Inside, it's the same wonderfully complete Charles Covell book, un-updated as far as i can tell, but not numbered like the true Peterson Guides.

So, if you're looking for the contents of the book and to identify moths, this is the CHEAPest way to get a copy - and thank the Virginia Museum of Nat. History for working to get the reprint rights. If you are looking for a collector's version, it fills slot 30 better than the Easton Press leather edition because it looks like a Peterson Guide.