The Family Butterfly Book [Paperback]

Rick Mikula (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2000

- Raise your own butterflies!

- Create a butterfly habitat with 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 many species are endangered. Without help, nine out of ten caterpillars won't survive long enough to become butterflies. The "grandfather of butterfly farming," Rick Mikula, wants to improve these odds. In The Family Butterfly Book, Rick shares his vast knowledge, contagious enthusiasm, and deep respect for these fascinating creatures.

Though many of us know that caterpillars turn into butterflies, Rick explains the transformation from start to finish - egg to caterpillar to chrysallis to butterfly - and reveals where each stage can be found in the wilds of our own backyards. With stunning color photographs and detailed illustrations, Rick explains how to attract, safely catch and handle, and raise and support butterflies. He also discusses how to make irresistible habitats for butterflies and emphasizes the importance of basking sites, water sources, and shelter. Did you ever want to hand-feed a butterfly? Have a live-butterfly tree? Feature butterflies in special celebrations? Rick explains all that and more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-This handsome, oversized volume, chockablock with family/classroom projects and experiments, is sure to be greeted enthusiastically. Lavish, crisp full-color photos, information boxes, maps, and lists of butterfly do's and don'ts make clear the creatures' physiology and metamorphosis. Mikula gives solid instructions on raising butterflies and creating butterfly habitats. He discusses the capture of wild specimens (to be released) and the taking of pupae/chrysalides for home/classroom rearing, including lots of caveats to young collectors throughout. No commercial sources are listed. The author also presents the joys of color photography, giving tips on equipment and techniques. All in all, a substantial and eye-catching title.

Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Take a Butterfly Under Your Wing

From a spectacular cloud of migrating Monarchs to a vivid Red Admiral lighting on your arm, butterflies take your breath away with their beauty and freshness. In this magnificent book, butterfly expert Rick Mikula shows how you can identify, care for, and raise butterflies in your own back yard so they will grace our earth for all time. Brimming with photos, insights, tips, and a dozen projects, this book is ideal for families, school, community groups, and individuals that want to have fun with butterflies.

Inside you'll learn how to:

- Hold and hand-feed a butterfly

- Grow host plants and nectar plants

- Make butterfly nets and rearing cages

- Identify common and endangered North American butterflies

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (October 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158017292X
• ISBN-13: 978-1580172929
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Butterflies

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of information and projects for families, December 31, 2001

By 

christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Houston Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Family Butterfly Book (Paperback)

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.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have for Butterfly Loving Families!, July 8, 2001

By 

Thea M. Ryan (South Dakota, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Family Butterfly Book (Hardcover)

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!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous and special!, May 5, 2001

By 

"iloveprovence" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Family Butterfly Book (Paperback)

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!