Butterflies & Moths of Missouri Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to tell you that I get a lot of good natured (I assume it is good natured) teasing from friends and family about my fascination with butterflies and moths and my hobby of watching them and photographing them. I have been interested in these creatures since a small child and indeed, like many little boys and girls, had quite an extensive butterfly collection when I was a lad growing up in the Ozark Mountains.

There are a great number of Lepidoptera in Missouri, more than even our wealth of plants here and little is known about many of the various species. It should be noted that ever few years new species which before have been unknown to our area are identified, many my armatures such as myself, so there is the element of adventure attached to this hobby. I no longer catch, kill and stick these little critters to the bottom of cigar boxes as I did years ago, but I do spend many wonderful hours watching them and attempting to photograph them (not all that easy...try it some time).
Anyway, this field guide, which was published in 1996 and which is getting rather difficult to find at a reasonable price, has been an old standby for me (It was first published in 1987). It covers every butterfly which has ever been found in the state; common and rare. Due to the many, many species of moth found here, the book only covers about 1 in 20 of the various species of moth so those interested in those insects need to add other field guides to their collection. I will say that over the years that there has not been one species of butterfly that I have not been able to identify using this book.
Each species is addressed and the following are covered:
Status...breeding, and months found.
Food Plants
Larva....a good verbal description.
And general notes.
There is a nice clear photograph of each species and when appropriate, their variations. The only slight quibble I have with this work is that the photographs are smaller than I would like, but on the other hand, space simply would not permit this if a field guide of this nature.
Please keep in mind that due to climate change, loss of habitat and various other factors that the range of many of these animals is changing swiftly and that we are constantly being invaded by invasive species.
Spring is here and I am getting all my various field guides and photographic gear in order and this book will certainly be included in my field kit.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks


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