Butterflies of British Columbia
Including Western Alberta, Southern Yukon, the Alaska Panhandle, Washington, Northern Oregon, Northern Idaho, and Northwestern Montana
Jon Shepard author Crispin Guppy author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:University of British Columbia Press
Published:15th Mar '01
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Butterflies are found everywhere in British Columbia, from balcony planter boxes in the city to the vast, unexplored expanses of boreal forest and mountains across the north, and from coastal bogs and wild ocean shorelines to the deserts of the southern interior. The total known fauna of 187 species of butterflies in B.C. is by far the largest and most diverse in Canada.
Butterflies of British Columbia summarizes all available information on the butterflies of B.C. The 187 species and 264 subspecies of butterflies known from B.C., as well as 9 additional hypothetical species, are discussed with descriptions of identifying features, immature stages, larval foodplants, biology and life history, range and habitat, and conservation status. In addition, descriptions are provided for 11 new subspecies. Each species treatment also contains maps of the northwestern North American distribution, colour photographs of adults of all species and subspecies, and flight season graphs.
The book includes an extensive general introduction to the study of butterflies, containing chapters on the history of butterfly study in B.C., the post-glacial colonization of B.C. by butterflies, the effects of European colonization on the fauna, butterfly conservation, butterfly gardening, ecology, morphology, and biology.
Butterflies of British Columbia provides butterfly watchers, naturalists, and biologists with an overview of the fascinating butterfly fauna of B.C. and adjacent areas. It can be used by naturalists to identify all the butterfly species and subspecies in B.C. and adjacent areas and includes a wide range of information about both butterflies in general and individual species. There is also much original information in the book that scientists will find invaluable, especially the description of 11 new subspecies and a complete reassessment of the taxonomy of the species.
This is an awesome book. The authors boldly took on the daunting task of producing a comprehensive treatment of the butterflies of British Columbia, and came up with an exceptionally fine result. -- Ian L. Jones * Discovery, Fall 2002 *
Overall, this is an admirable work abounding in useful information and should be on the bookshelves of anyone interested in butterflies and their role in nature. -- Peter Hall * The Canadian Field-Naturalists, Vol. 116 *
The best presented and designed of the big butterfly books of recent years, Butterflies of British Columbia will be a great boon for all western lepidopterists and butterfly enthusiasts. The content is superbly rendered: maps generous and accurate, art and photographic quality splendid, text literate and handsomely set. There are several innovative features, and the fact that the original taxonomy will inspire debate is a measure of the book's groundbreaking approach. A grand accomplishment overall, this keenly awaited book presents Guppy and Shepard's rich scholarship and immense field experience to elegant advantage. -- Robert Michael Pyle, Ph.D. author of The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies, Handbook for Butterfly Watchers, The Butterflies of Cascadia, and Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage
- Winner of Alcuin Citation for excellence in book design in Canada, Alcuin Society 2001 (Canada)
ISBN: 9780774808095
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 1620g
414 pages