Butterflies of the Great Lakes Region (Great Lakes Environment) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)When I first glanced inside this book, I said to myself, "This will be a good read!" I had not intended to read it right away, but it was three hours later when I finally put it down. For butterfly and insect enthusiasts in the Great Lakes region (or Eastern U.S. for that matter) this book is a treasure. The text is friendly to the non-scientist, the illustrations are clear and very helpful, and the photos are superb.
While it focuses most of its effort on species identification, the book also provides a solid overview of Great Lakes region's geography, climate, prehistory, and natural habitats. It provides an excellent chapter on butterfly biology, including a brief section about this insect's evolution.
Each butterfly description includes: the common and scientific name, the name of the scientist who first described the species, the date it was described, a description of adult characteristics, a paragraph about confusing species, and paragraphs on adult food sources, adult habitat and behavior, the life history, and host plants of the larva. The adult butterfly photo is included, typically of the male and sometimes both sexes. A Great Lakes region map shows where the butterfly is commonly found. Particularly interesting to me was the life history of each butterfly, which follows the egg to adult. Life history is rarely included with guidebooks.
The book ends with appendices covering butterfly systematics, resource information, glossary of terms, and references. It includes an index of common names, and a second index of subjects.
If you simply need to identify butterflies, the book is excellent. It's a bit larger than a pocket guide, but it can be carried on the trail. It's easy to thumb through quickly for identification.
But this is more than a guide; it's an ample resource book, filled with information to educate and encourage the butterfly enthusiast.

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The Butterflies of the Great Lakes is the first of its kind to present an overall picture of the biology of butterflies inhabiting the Great Lakes region. The straightforward approach and clear writing style make this book very understandable to the educated lay public as well as stimulating to professional biologists.Includes:An introductory section about the important geographic features of the Great Lakes region The climate factors that have affected the butterfly fauna and their distribution within the region since the retreat of the glaciers 10,000 years ago Descriptions of ancient environments and habitats of the Great Lakes Line drawings and award-winning color photographs of butterflies under natural field conditions The most recent information concerning each species' taxonomy, identification, adult food sources, adult habitat, behavior, and ecology A complete life history and description of typical larval host plants used by each species A section on the important practice of collecting, preserving, and conserving butterflies Extended reference section and glossary complete the bookMatthew M. Douglas is Senior Adjunct Research Scientist, Snow Entomological Museum, University of Kansas; Department Head, Biology at Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Visiting Professor in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University. He is the author of The Lives of Butterflies.Jonathan M. Douglas holds a BS from the University of Chicago.