New Guinea, the world's second largest island, lies at the heart of the Australasian center of species diversity. The remarkable richness of species in the region is no more spectacularly evident than in its bewildering and beautiful array of butterflies. Michael Parsons presents, from his 15 years of studying these butterflies, a comprehensive description of this butterfly fauna which describes and celebrates their evolution and ecology. The butterflies of New Guinea show how a single animal group can diversify to fully exploit the riches of a tropical rainforest environment. More than 958 species have been recorded so far, and each has developed a unique relationship to its environment, foodplants, predators, and competitors. The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea: Their Systematics and Biology presents a valuable reference for both the amateur naturalist with an interest in butterflies and the evolutionary ecologist interested in the processes and results of adaptation and speciation. The book provides a background of the geography of New Guinea, the origins and characteristics of its butterfly fauna, and special considerations of New Guinea butterfly ecology and conservation. The 820 species recorded from Papua New Guinea and a checklist of the 958 species occurring in Papua New Guinea and Iryan Jaya as a whole are also discussed in detail. This book includes line drawings showing detailed identification points, color photographs of some 3000 specimens, and 200 illustrations detailing aspects of life history and ecology. The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea: Their Systematics and Biology presents a vital inventory of the present fauna, in addition to projections of the discovery of new species and the fortunes of those already in existence there. Key Features * Examines butterflies as key indicators of environments under pressure * Contains color photos of more than 3000 specimens * Presents the first comprehensive review of the lives of New Guinea butterflies * Includes over 400 color photographs from life

Certificate of Commendation Winner at the 2001 Whitley Awards - Best Zoological Reference Section This very detailed compendium of data on taxonomy and nomenclature of Australian butterflies is another in the Catalogue series produced by the Australian Biological Resources Study, a sub-program of Environment Australia. Expanding on the butterfly section of the earlier Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Australia by Nielsen, Edwards & Rangsi (1996) This Catalogue contains the fine details of naming and status of types of Australian butterflies, and information critical for fixing the scientific names of the species. This volume is the 'Who's Who' for the Australian butterfly fauna, the very basic information we all need, but find so difficult to access and evaluate for ourselves. It is introduced by a comprehensive historical and explanatory account of work on Australian butterflies. Details are given of all genus and species synonymies applicable to the Australian fauna. There are details of the type designations of all 507 available generic names, of type data for the 1,004 available species group names and of nomenclatural changes and changes in taxonomic status for most of the 136 valid genera, 400 species, and 371 subspecies. The butterflies have an enormous literature and this catalogue provides a guide to the significant literature of each taxon. An extensive list of larval food plants is also included, as well as succinct information on ecology and distribution and a comprehensive bibliography. Features

Describes Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterflies, discussing where and how they live and their size, important body parts, diet, and stages of development.

Describes the evolution, physical characteristics, behavior, habitat, and life cycle of the butterfly.

An enthralling exploration of the biologically richest island on Earth, featuring more than 200 spectacular color images by award-winning National Geographic photographer Tim Laman In this beautiful book, Bruce Beehler, a renowned author and expert on New Guinea, and award-winning National Geographic photographer Tim Laman take the reader on an unforgettable journey through the natural and cultural wonders of the world's grandest island. Skillfully combining a wealth of information, a descriptive and story-filled narrative, and more than 200 stunning color photographs, the book unlocks New Guinea's remarkable secrets like never before. Lying between the Equator and Australia's north coast, and surrounded by the richest coral reefs on Earth, New Guinea is the world's largest, highest, and most environmentally complex tropical island—home to rainforests with showy rhododendrons, strange and colorful orchids, tree-kangaroos, spiny anteaters, ingenious bowerbirds, and spectacular birds of paradise. New Guinea is also home to more than a thousand traditional human societies, each with its own language and lifestyle, and many of these tribes still live in isolated villages and serve as stewards of the rainforests they inhabit. Accessible and authoritative, New Guinea provides a comprehensive introduction to the island's environment, animals, plants, and traditional rainforest cultures. Individual chapters cover the island's history of exploration; geology; climate and weather; biogeography; plantlife; insects, spiders, and other invertebrates; freshwater fishes; snakes, lizards, and frogs; birdlife; mammals; paleontology; paleoanthropology; cultural and linguistic diversity; surrounding islands and reefs; the pristine forest of the Foja Mountains; village life; and future sustainability. Complete with informative illustrations and a large, detailed map, New Guinea offers an enchanting account of the island's unequalled natural and cultural treasures.

This widely praised book chronicles Peter Laufer’s adventures within the butterfly industry and the butterfly underground. Laufer begins by examining the allure of butterflies throughout history, but his research soon veers into the high-stake realms of organized crime, ecological devastation, museum collections, and chaos theory. His ever-expanding journey of discovery throughout the Americas and beyond offers a rare look into a theater of intrigue, peopled with quirky and nefarious characters—all in pursuit of these delicate, beautiful creatures. Read this book, and your garden—and the world—will never quite look the same.

Brings together exciting accounts of life history strategies of a range of species, as well as background information on general butterfly behaviour, taxonomy and evolutionary aspects.

Not everybody cares about the fate of wild animals or the state of the natural environment. I met a lady who said it wouldn't worry her if all the wild animals in the world disappeared overnight. She was a city person~ she said. There are also people who would prefer to let animals become extinct than to have them kept in captivity - no matter how progressive the zoo. There are those who, on principle, will not eat meat, let alone do the killing, and there are those who enjoy nothing so much as shooting birds. People in the last two camps may oppose each other in claiming to be con servationists. Extremists are unlikely to find their opinions being reversed by this book but, because of the scope of the subject, I believe there is a good chance that anybody with an interest in wildlife will find in it something new to think about. It may not be too much to hope that a few disagreements might also be settled because I suspect there is more common ground than is generally realized among those with opposing views.