A World for Butterflies: Their Lives, Habitats and Future [Hardcover]

Phillip J. Schappert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2000

• Chosen by Booklist (American Library Association) as one of the 'Top 10 Sci-Tech Books' in 2000.

Butterflies are the most charismatic species of the insect world. Their brilliant colors, ability to fly, complex behavior, ecological relationships with plants and animals, and their broad distribution in a wide variety of habitats have fascinated people for centuries.

With over 300 color photographs and drawings, A World For Butterflies is a lavishly illustrated guide to the world of butterflies providing a wide range of information about this colorful and graceful insect.

The book is divided into five chapters, each focusing on a major question:

• What are butterflies?
• How many kinds of butterflies are there?
• Where do they live?
• How do they live?
• What can we do to help them survive?

Among the many topics discussed in detail are evolution, life cycle, courtship and reproduction, anatomy, geographic distribution, migration, demography, as well as butterfly-watching.

A World For Butterflies is the first book to feature photographs of butterflies in their natural settings, accompanied by fascinating text, such as:

• Only one or two out of a hundred eggs will survive to become a butterfly
• Strategies to deter predators include false eyespots, heads and bright wings that 'disappear' when folded up
• Butterflies without strong anti-predator scent or taste have evolved to look exactly like those that do.

Accurate, comprehensive, and beautifully illustrated, this is the ultimate guide to the world of butterflies.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The term charismatic megafauna is usually reserved for highly visible (and often endangered) mammals, such as tigers or rhinoceros. As Schappert points out in his introduction, butterflies are the charismatic megafauna of the insect world. Their large size and brilliant colors make them obvious to even casual observers, and their occurrence in a wide variety of habitats has interested us for centuries. The author, who studies plant and butterfly interactions, has written a fascinating introduction to these beautiful day-flying insects. The first chapter explains what a butterfly is, the difference between butterflies and their more numerous cousins the moths, and their anatomy. Taxonomy and the butterfly families of the world are covered in the second chapter, with diversity and where they live comprising the third. In many ways, the fourth chapter, on the natural history and behavior of butterflies, is the most fascinating portion of the book and illustrates the complex relationships between butterflies and their environment. The final chapter, on conservation, is an eloquent plea for the continued existence of these most intriguing insects. The book is beautifully illustrated with photos of live butterflies taken in the wild. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

STARRED REVIEW: Beautifully illustrated with photos of live butterflies... clear and concise writing style, make this book an absolute must. (Nancy Bent Booklist 20000801)

Impeccably researched ... enjoyable, informative, and indispensable. (Entomological Society of America 20010201)

[Schappert's] lavishly illustrated book provides an introduction to this ephemeral but ubiquitous arthropod. (Nature 20000908)

Condenses an immense amount of scientific information about butterflies into a relatively slim volume of lucid prose and vivid photographs. (Gary Clark Houston Chronicle 20001101)

Stunningly illustrated ... a must for anyone with a fondness for this photogenic insect. (Discover 20001224)

Profusely illustrated, detailed look at the world of butterflies, covering virtually every aspect of the insect. (Lynn Van Matre Chicago Tribune )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (September 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552095509
• ISBN-13: 978-1552095508
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,321,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Field Guides > Insects & Spiders

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A World for Butterflies, October 11, 2000

By 

Mary Ziller, Librarian - See all my reviews

This review is from: A World for Butterflies: Their Lives, Habitats and Future (Hardcover)

The author's goal was to bridge the gap between researcher and teacher. I think he accomplished this admirably through the pictures. Almost every page has a beautiful photograph. The book is comprehensive and authoritative, covering conservation, classification, life cycle, and geographic distribution. "Six case studies illustrate some of the major problems faced by butterflies, and some of the real and potential solutions that have been (or can be) used to moderate their decline or endangerment". Includes bibliographic references and index. This book should appeal to young fans of the Very Hungry Butterfly as well as older students studying and classifying butterflies.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended-- Fills a Great Need, October 27, 2000

By 

Kurt Johnson - See all my reviews

This review is from: A World for Butterflies: Their Lives, Habitats and Future (Hardcover)

This book can be unreservedly recommended-- not only for butterfly lovers and aficionados but the general lover of nature. To its great credit, it does many things at the same time, and does them all well. While it can introduce the general nature lover to the wonders of butterflies, it can also take seasoned butterfly enthusiasts even deeper into their favorite subject. Neither party will feel left out. The book is a judicious combination of informed text and beautiful, pertinent, photographs and graphic illustrations. One role this book fills is a gap which has "gaped" for many decades-- one between the simple love of Lepidoptera and the science of Lepidoptera. Many lepidopterists who see this book are going to wish THEY had it when they were young. This is because the book builds so many easy bridges between the simple love of butterflies and the wondrous complexity of their science. It hits the whole spectrum-- from life cycle, body and structure, classification, distribution, and general biology to more complex topics-- like mimicry and genetics. And, in each case, there are diagrams and/or photographs making even the most complex topics readily understandable. I bought a copy and gave it to a young friend who, at 10, is just beginning to take his love of butterflies to a higher level of serious learning. However, the book will work just as well for adults; if a professional wanted a quick refresher on many topics in lepidoptery he could find them here as well. The other major topic that A World For Butterflies bites off with gusto is conservation. The topic is treated not just with sweeping worldwide generalities but with compelling and intricate case studies highlighting the complexities that lie beneath the problem of species endangerment worldwide. This book deserves to do very well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine book, September 13, 2009

By 

D. E. Hill "follower of the art of Natural Hi... (Centennial, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A World for Butterflies: Their Lives, Habitats and Future (Hardcover)

There really are not many really good reading books on butterflies, and this is one of the few. If you have an interest in butterflies, you will greatly appreciate it.