This beautiful and comprehensive guide, many years in the making, is a manual for identifying the butterflies of 海角乱伦社区as well as 90 percent of the butterflies in the Plains states.
It begins by providing information on the natural communities of Iowa, paying special attention to butterfly habitat and distribution. Next come chapters on the history of lepidopteran research in 海角乱伦社区and on creating butterfly gardens, followed by an intriguing series of questions and issues relevant to the study of butterflies in the state.
The second part contains accounts, organized by family, for the 118 species known to occur in Iowa. Each account includes the common and scientific names for each species, its Opler and Warren number, its status in Iowa, adult flight times and number of broods per season, distinguishing features, distribution and habitat, and natural history information such as behavior and food plant preferences. As a special feature of each account, the authors have included questions that illuminate the research and conservation challenges for each species.
In the third section, the illustrations, grouped for easier comparison among species, include color photographs of all the adult forms that occur in Iowa. Male and female as well as top and bottom views are shown for most species. The distribution maps indicate in which of Iowa鈥檚 ninety-nine counties specimens have been collected; flight times for each species are shown by marking the date of collection for each verified specimen on a yearly calendar.
The book ends with a checklist, collection information specific to the photographs, a glossary, references, and an index. The authors鈥 meticulous attention to detail, stimulating questions for students and researchers, concern for habitat preservation, and joyful appreciation of the natural world make it a valuable and inspiring volume.
鈥淎 book on Iowa鈥檚 butterflies is long overdue and the significance of this work simply cannot be overstated. The chapters on natural communities and on the history of 海角乱伦社区butterfly study alone make it indispensable. Highly recommended.鈥濃擱on Royer, author of Butterflies of North Dakota
鈥淲ithout a doubt, this is the most comprehensive guide to butterflies in Iowa. It provides information regarding both historic and present-day distributions relative to landforms, plant resources, and specific natural areas. In addition to the standard morphological descriptions, each species is described relative to flight time, natural history, and particular questions that need future research. An excellent source!鈥濃擠iane Debinski, 海角乱伦社区State University
Preface and Acknowledgments
Part One: An Introduction to 海角乱伦社区Butterflies
The Natural Communities of 海角乱伦社区and Their Butterflies
A History of Butterfly Collecting in Iowa
Attracting Butterflies
Problems for Future Research
Part Two: The Butterflies of Iowa
Introduction to the Species Accounts
Skippers: Family Hesperiidae
Swallowtails: Family Papilionidae
Whites, Sulphurs, and Marbles: Family Pieridae
Coppers, Blues, Hairstreaks, and Harvesters: Family Lycaenidae
Brush-footed Butterflies: Family Nymphalidae
Occasional Strays and Old Records
Part Three: Plates, Range Maps, and Flight Diagrams
Introduction to the Plates
The Plates
Introduction to the Range Maps and Flight Diagrams
The Range Maps and Flight Diagrams
Checklist of 海角乱伦社区Butterflies
Butterfly Collection Data
Glossary
Plant Names
Literature Cited
Index
