The cover alone is enough to lure you to this book! When it's followed up with the contribution of two powerhouse entomologists, you know you have a winner.
Following on the success of all the other volumes in the "....Of The World" series, it presents a very familiar format, time-tested and reader-approved.
The quality of information presented in the book is valid for insectophiles of all levels, but it is especially valuable for the butterfly lover who yearns to learn more. To understand the physiology and life history of a butterfly, beyond visual appreciation and enjoyment, takes one from novice to proficient citizen scientist. In no time at all you will understand the entire structure of a butterfly and its world, including the enchanting process of holometabolous development.
As is the case with all the other books in this collection, the coloured illustrations are superb. Every single page is festooned with mouth-watering images.
The text is presented in a straightforward, easy-to-read format, and covers everything from the simple question, "What are butterflies?" through the orders, evolution and origins, anatomy of adults and colour vision, life stages, where to find butterflies, biogeography, survival strategies, conservation, extinction, the history of studying butterflies, butterfly study today, nomenclature, new species, butterflies and society, and classification.
This is followed by sections on the families and subfamilies of butterflies according to current classification and taxonomic arrangements, with representative species from each category.
A detailed text provides salient information, along with a range map, details as to genera, distribution, habitats, size, and host plant families. As always elegant photographs complement the text. In some cases enough vegetation is visible to try to identify it from the leaves on which the butterfly is perched. This only adds to the fun!
Alfred Russell Wallace, that peripatetic discover of so many scientific truths, not the least of which was the co-discovery of the theory of evolution at the same time as Charles Darwin, once remarked, "The study of butterflies - creatures selected as the type of airiness and frivolity - instead of being despised, will someday be valued as one of the most important branches of biological science." How prescient he was!
As I write this review, the larvae of Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) are happily chewing their way through Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and will soon be pupating. We raise them every year, as we also have done with Giant Swallowtails (Papilio cresphontes) and Black Swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes) - and you can too!
Accompanied by this book the doors to the world of butterflies will open wide. You will walk through and never look back.
I guarantee it!
Butterflies of the World: A Guide to Every Subfamily - Princeton University Press
Blanca Huertas and Shinichi Nakahara
Hardcover - US$32.00 - ISBN: 9780691265209
240 pages - 6.75 x 9.5 inches (16.875 x 23.75 cm)
Publication date: 02 September, 2025
Hello David, what a wonderful review of this book. A book like this should stand in everyones bookcase. I do have a book simular like this for butterflies of Europe.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting.
Warm regards,
Roos
I hope you are documenting with photos your butterflies you are raising, I raised ONE a few years ago and it sure was fun. I raised tadpoles to frogs one summer and never tried that again. the book is beautiful, the illustrations are gorgeous
ReplyDeleteThanks for the spider ID. I've never seen that one before. I'll take a look at the golden rod when I walk this morning.
ReplyDelete...there are some many "flying flowers" in the world!
ReplyDeleteOr are the flowers “stationary butterflies”?
DeleteIt looks like a great book, David. The pictures and illustrations are very nice. I assume it is already in your book collection. It is absolutely fantastic that butterflies are developing at your home! You must show pictures of it.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
It is nestled on my shelf, Marit, next to all the other books on butterflies and moths.
DeleteI always are intrigued with the variety and beauty of butterflies. Sounds like a wonderful book. I'll keep it in mind for a friend who raises butterflies for release- she might really enjoy this book..
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that she would.
DeleteYou capture both the scholarly depth and visual delight of the book. Well done David
ReplyDeleteYour enthusiasm for the illustrations makes the book feel irresistible, clearly a perfect balance of science and wonder for butterfly lovers. By the way, I can not load the images here. I did not see the photos. What is wrong?
I am not sure why you are unable to load the pictures. No one has reported this issue. My wife has just opened them on both her computer and her iPad without issue.
DeleteWonderful review on this book. Beautiful cover and images as well.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful book. Everyone loves butterflies don't they? Was lucky to see plenty this summer and got some good photos which I'll get around to posting! :-D
ReplyDeleteI need this book!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, you do!
DeleteThis book contains beautiful photos of butterflies
ReplyDeleteI'd like to get this book. Enjoyed your review, thanks David!
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing book. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of book I would enjoy reading and learning too!
ReplyDeleteGood review of an wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteOh, it sounds just right for me! Butterflies are beautiful and simply fascinating.
ReplyDeleteEste libro sería muy especial para mí, me encantan las mariposas. Abrazos querido amigo David.
ReplyDeleteAnother intriguing book review. I'm curious if every butterfly with a different design is a separate species, of if at least in some cases it's like hair on humans, whereas some are blonds, some are brunettes, and some are redheads, yet all are homo sapiens.
ReplyDeleteThe species concept is not as precise as one might hope, but is governed by far more than external morphology. Anatomy, reproduction, host plants, seasonality and several other factors all go into it.
DeleteDefinitely my favorite book in the collection. Butterflies are one of the sources of inspiration in my life 🦋🍃😘
ReplyDeleteSending hugs and kisses 😘😘☀️☀️🐞😘🦋😘
Well, you are a flighty beauty yourself. Your scientific name is Bellissima angelica!
DeleteWhat a beautiful book about butterflies of the world. Thank you for the review.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteIt has many beautiful photos.
There are far fewer butterflies this year than last year, which is a real shame.
Greetings Irma
An excellent guide! Butterflies have always been my favorite.
ReplyDeleteButterflies are probably the only insects that gardener favourable attention from just about everyone.
DeleteLooks like a beautiful and highly informative book--and I always enjoy your enthusiastic book reviews. Your love of books and the subject matter leaps from the screen and always brings a smile to my face.
ReplyDeleteCiekawa recenzja. Książka jest piękna i przekazuje wiele cennych informacji o motylach. Uwielbiam je fotografować i obserwować. Tu widzę wiele ciekawych i dobrych zdjęć.
ReplyDeleteMe encantan las mariposas. Por supuesto me han inspirado poesías y cuentos infantiles.
ReplyDeleteGracias, David.
¡Feliz día!
If I didn't already have a pretty good butterfly book, I would get this one. It looks impressive.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a super book, the pictures and illustrations look good... really makes you want to dive into it :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Oh, I love butterflies! I guess most people do. Maybe my library can get it. I have too many books already.
ReplyDeleteWhat purrfect timing for a butterfly book:) Looks like a good one.
ReplyDeleteThis looks a beautiful book, I googled on Amazon, it's only just about to be released in hardback for us in the UK so I am hoping my library might get a copy in the next few weeks/months. The illustrations as wonderful. You said you raise butterflies yourself, that must be enjoyable, would like to see your butterflies! I am not sure the UK climate will allow us to do this so much but I have noticed more butterflies this year in my garden than previous years - red admiral an cabbage white mainly! Betty
ReplyDeletep.s. further to my comment, I just found your 2020 post on raising butterflies! will read with interest. Betty
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
DeleteNice photos in the book. I bet they have to cover a whole lot of butterflies to cover the world. I bet it's beautiful to look at with all those colors and wing designs.
ReplyDeleteThere is much to be covered to be sure, but they are covering every subfamily with representation within it, not every species. Now that would really be a monumental task - and a very large book!
Delete