A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America: Second Edition

A thoroughly revised edition of the most comprehensive and authoritative photographic field guide to North American butterflies This is a revised second edition of the most detailed, comprehensive, and user-friendly photographic field guide to the butterflies of North America. Written by Jeffrey Glassberg, the pioneering authority on the field identification of butterflies, the guide covers all known species, beautifully illustrating them with 3,500 large, gorgeous color photographs--the very best images available. This second edition includes more than 500 new photos and updated text, maps, and species names. For most species, there are photographs of topsides and undersides, males and females, and variants. All text is embedded in the photographs, allowing swift access in the field, and arrows point to field marks, showing you exactly what to look for. Detailed, same-page range maps include information about the number of broods in each area and where strays have been recorded. Color text boxes highlight information about habitat, caterpillar food plants, abundance and flight period, and other interesting facts. Also included are a quick visual index and a caterpillar food plant index. The result is an ideal field guide that will enable you to identify almost every butterfly you see. * A revised second edition of the most comprehensive photographic field guide to North American butterflies, featuring more than 500 new photos and updated text, maps, and species names* Written by the pioneering authority on the field identification of butterflies* Beautifully illustrated with 3,500 color photographs that show all known species, including views of topsides and undersides, males and females, and variants for most species* Authoritative text embedded in the photographs for swift access* Detailed range maps* Color text boxes that highlight information about habitat, food plants, abundance and flight period, and other interesting facts* An invaluable tool for field identification

Table of Contents:
Introduction 7 About This Book 7 Butterfly Identification 7 Butterfly Biology 8 Names 9 Interacting with Butterflies 9 "Releasing" Butterflies 10 Conservation 11 North American Butterfly Association 11 Wing Areas and Body Parts 12 About the Species Accounts 13 Abbreviations, Symbols and Glossary 14 About the Maps 15 Swallowtails Papilionidae 16 Parnassians Parnassiinae 16 True Swallowtails Papilioninae 18 Whites and Yellows Pieridae 36 Whites Pierinae 36 Marbles and Orangetips 46 Yellows Coliadinae 52 Sulphurs 52 Yellows 68 Gossamerwings Lycaenidae 74 Coppers Lycaeninae 74 Harvester Miletinae 83 Hairstreaks Theclinae 84 Blues Polyommatinae 122 Metalmarks Riodinidae 146 Brushfoots Nymphalidae 158 Heliconians and Fritillaries Heliconiinae 158 Heliconians 158 Greater Fritillaries 162 Lesser Fritillaries 182 True Brushfoots Nymphalinae 190 Patches, Checkerspots and Crescents 190 Anglewings, Ladies and Relatives 220 Admirals and Relatives Limenitidinae et al. 232 Leafwings Charaxinae 246 Emperors Apaturinae 250 Snouts Libytheinae 253 Satyrs Satyrinae 254 Ticlears, Clearwings Ithomiinae 277 Mimic-Queen and Monarchs Danainae 277 Skippers Hesperiidae 280 Firetips Pyrrhopyginae 280 Spreadwing Skippers Pyrginae 280 Skipperlings Heteropterinae 332 Grass-Skippers Hesperiinae 334 Giant-Skippers Megathyminae 394 Hawaii 400 Conclusion Photo Credits 402 Selected Bibliography 403 Selected Websites 403 Caterpillar Foodplant Index 404 Butterfly Species Index 408 Visual Index 418

About the Author :
Jeffrey Glassberg is a leading butterfly authority and author. He is president of the North American Butterfly Association, editor of American Butterflies magazine, and the author of many books, including the Butterflies through Binoculars series. He is adjunct professor of evolutionary biology at Rice University and lives in Morristown, New Jersey.

Review :
"[A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America] is a comprehensive and authoritative field guide illustrated with 3,500 photographs." "This is a remarkable field guide with nearly 3,600 photographs, including every species known to occur within the 50 states." "If you are interested in learning more about butterflies, this is the book for you! . . . A Swift Guide to Butterflies provides everything that interested butterfly hunters and conservationists need to get started in butterfly collecting or butterfly watching. . . . A great identification book for both the newbie and the experienced butterfly enthusiast."---Tom Berg, The Blade "As good a photo-guide as it is possible to get. Every square millimetre of every page is crammed full of precisely targeted information, expressly designed to make sure you can name that butterfly. . . . Even if you already have one of the other guides . . . it is worth adding this volume to your library as an additional and complementary resource."---Guy Padfield, Dispar "Anyone with a strong interest in butterflies should get this book." "A must-have for all butterfly lovers in the United States."