Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths (Paperback)

~ (Author), Roger Tory Peterson (Editor), Amy Bartlett Wright (Illustrator) "This worldwide group is a favorite among butterfly enthusiasts because many of its members are large and brightly colored..." (more)
Key Phrases: adults nectar, adults visit flowers, caterpillar host plants, North America, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Peterson First Guides are the first books the beginning naturalist needs. Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see. They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides.

About the Author

Dr. Paul A. Opler is the author of several books and videos on butterflies, including the Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths. He is the author of more than 100 scientific papers and is a senior research scientist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. He serves as vice president of the North American Butterfly Association and of the Xerces Society. He is past president of the Lepidopterists' Society and is active in efforts to conserve insects and their habitats.

Roger Tory Peterson, one of the world"s greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars, and the Peterson Field Guides® are credited with helping to set the stage for the environmental movement.

Amy Bartlett Wright is a contributor for Houghton Mifflin Company titles including: "A Field Guide to Western Butterflies."

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2nd edition (February 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395906652
• ISBN-13: 978-0395906651
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 3.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,759 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful intro book!, July 25, 2000

By	Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This introductory field guide is much, much better than the old Little Golden Guide" that beginning Lepidoptrists (butterfly lovers) have relied on in the past. I wish I had had the new First Guide version a kid! It shows accurate color drawings of the most common species, along with the food plants and, in some cases, the other life stages such as larvae and pupae.

I especially like the fact that it includes so many moths -- not just the showy ones like Cecropias and Lunas that beginners dream about but seldom find -- but some of the little gray and brown ones, too, such as might show up any evening around your yard light. Plus, I finally found out that a grayish day-flying moth with a metallic-blue body that I see around here all the tiime is callled a "Southern Ctenucha."

As a Master Gardener volunteer, I currently recommend this to 4H-ers (and adults, too) who are just getting started in entomology. It's easy to use, and the light pocket size makes it nice for children to carry on field trips. Buy it along with "First Guide to Caterpillars" in the same series (which I have also reviewed here on Amazon).

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Typical Peterson, August 23, 2006

By	L. Graham "Music Lover" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Typical of all the Peterson guides. This one has all the information one normally needs. It also is arranged in sometimes frustrating sections which require one to go to several sections for a complete profile of the subject matter. I simply do not want to spend the time going back and forth in the book when I simply want basic information on one insect.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Bit too brief, September 2, 2008

By	Princeton Mom (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this when my daughter started expressing interest in butterflies. The pictures are ok. There is so little information. It is rather dull. Not sure if there is anything better out there, but this book is rather uninspiring.