Butterflies: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior - Softcover

"Vane-Wright is perhaps uniquely qualified to synthesize and distill to a readable essence the vast literature on the natural history, ecology, and evolution of the world's 20,000 or so species of butterflies. This book is a second edition of one published by the Natural History Museum in 2003, but Vane-Wright has revised the text to include breaking news, such as the origin of the 'moth' family Hedylidae from within butterflies, according to recent DNA-based phylogenetic studies. He also frankly highlights areas where our knowledge is still lacking, perhaps a source of inspiration for a new generation of butterfly biologists." -- Andrew V. Z. Brower * The Quarterly Review of Biology * "This colorful book is a fascinating introduction to the complex world of the butterfly. If you want to learn about false eyes or false heads, mimicry and mockers, adaption and evolution, it's all here. Once you've read this book, even the cabbage white will never look the same again." * New Scientist * "For those who wish to delve deeper into the origins, life-cycles and general natural history of these beautiful insects, this book offers a suitable opportunity. In addition to revealing a wealth of information about the subject, it is a delight to handle with a superb selection of first-rate photographs... offering a superbly illustrated insight into the world of these... insects." * The London Naturalist *

Butterflies immediately catch our attention with their beautiful wing patterns and colors. They exemplify metamorphosis with the creeping caterpillar transforming into a soaring butterfly. They have also come to be creatures of science, revealing much to biologists about evolution and the ecological processes and historical accidents that have generated the diversity of life on Earth.In Butterflies, Dick Vane-Wright provides a complete introduction to the biology, natural history, and classification of this major group. Using examples from around the world and eye-catching photographs, he explores what it means to be a butterfly, from how the yellow birdwing finds a mate to why the African gaudy commodores produce adults of different colors.