Butterflies of British Columbia

Including Western Alberta, Southern Yukon, the Alaska Panhandle, Washington, Northern Oregon, Northern Idaho, and Northwestern Montana

By Jon Shepard & Crispin Guppy
Categories: Environmental & Nature Studies, Environmental History, Regional & Cultural Studies, Canadian Studies
Publisher: UBC Press
Hardcover : 9780774808095, 414 pages, March 2001
Ebook (PDF) : 9780774856232, 414 pages, October 2007

Table of contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

The Study of Butterflies in British Columbia

Postglacial Origins of the Butterfly Fauna of British Columbia

Impact of Humans on the Butterfly Fauna of British Columbia

Conservation of Butterflies in British Columbia

Butterfly Gardens

Morphology of Immature and Adult Butterflies

Biology of Butterflies

Seasonal Changes in Butterfly Fauna

Species Accounts

Organization of the Species Accounts

Superfamily Hesperioidea

Family Hesperiidae (Skippers)

Subfamily Pyrginae

Subfamily Hesperiinae

Superfamily Papilionoidea

Family Papilionidae (Swallowtails and Apollos)

Subfamily Parnassiinae

Subfamily Papilioninae

Family Pieridae (Whites, Marbles, and Sulphurs)

Subfamily Pierinae

Subfamily Anthocharinae

Subfamily Coliadinae

Family Lycaenidae (Gossamer Wings)

Subfamily Lycaeninae

Subfamily Theclinae

Subfamily Polyommatinae

Family Riodinidae (Metalmarks)

Family Nymphalidae (Brushfoots)

Subfamily Nymphalinae

Subfamily Argynninae

Subfamily Melitaeinae

Subfamily Limenitidinae

Subfamily Satyrinae

Subfamily Danainae

Appendices

1. Maps Showing the Distribution of Additional Species in Areas Adjacent to British Columbia

2. Species Checklist

3. Data for Butterfly Photographs and Genitalia Drawings

4. The Lepidopterists’ Society’s Statement on Collecting Lepidoptera

Glossary

Bibliography

Credits

Index

Description

Butterflies are found everywhere in British Columbia. Written for butterfly watchers, butterfly gardeners, naturalists, and biologists, Butterflies of British Columbia will provide years of enjoyment for the butterfly enthusiast.

The Butterflies of British Columbia

  • provides the most complete coverage of species and subspecies of any North American regional or continental butterfly book
  • covers 187 species and 264 subspecies of butterflies, as well as 9 additional hypothetical species
  • provides descriptions of identifying features, immature stages, larval foodplants, biology and life history, range and habitat, and conservation status for each species
  • describes 11 new subspecies
  • includes introductory chapters covering the history, zoogeography, conservation, morphology, ecology, and biology of butterflies in BC and adjacent areas
  • is lavishly illustrated with over 1,200 colour photographs and over 200 distribution maps
  • includes a glossary of butterfly terms and a bibliography of over 750 citations.

Reviews

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 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

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