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Do Butterflies Bite?

Fascinating Answers to Questions about Butterflies and Moths

by Hazel Davies and Carol A Butler

Paperback

$28.95

eBook (ePub)

$28.95

eBook (PDF)

$28.95

Quantity

Price:: $28.95
ISBN:: 9780813542683
Published:: Jun 03, 2008

Release Date:: 3rd June 2008
Publisher:: Rutgers University Press
Imprint:: Rutgers University Press
Series:: Animals Q & A
Pages:: 240

Description
Praise
Contents
Authors

How fast do butterflies fly? Does a butterfly have ears? Do they sleep? Does a caterpillar have a skeleton? How does a moth get out of its cocoon? What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth? And just what is a skipper?

Every year, thousands of people visit butterfly conservatories to stand in quiet awe of the simple beauty displayed by these magical creatures. Hazel Davies and Carol A. Butler capture the sense of wonderment and curiosity experienced by adults and children alike in this book about butterflies and their taxonomic cousins, the moths and the skippers. Beautifully illustrated with color and black and white photographs, and drawings by renowned artist William Howe, this book is an essential resource for parents, teachers, students, or anyone who has ever been entranced by these fascinating, fluttering creatures.

Covering everything from their basic biology to their complex behaviors at every stage of life to issues in butterfly conservation, Davies and Butler explore wide-ranging topics and supply a trove of intriguing facts. You'll find tips on how to attract more butterflies to your garden, how to photograph them, and even how to raise them in your own home. Arranged in a question and answer format, the book provides detailed information written in an accessible style that brings to life the science and natural history of these insects. In addition, sidebars throughout the book detail an assortment of butterfly trivia, while extensive appendices direct you to organizations, web sites, and more than 200 indoor and outdoor public exhibits, where you can learn more or connect with other lepidopterophiles (butterfly lovers).

This volume is a welcome addition to the libraries of butterfly watchers, collectors, and hobbyists.
- Michael Weissmann

"Finally we have a well organized, clearly written reference with answers to almost every conceivable question that anyone might imagine concerning butterflies and moths. This volume is perfect for anyone fascinated by the seemingly endless mysteries of the natural world."
- Don R. Davis

"This book answers everything you would like to know about butterflies—a great addition to the library for those who like butterflies and nature!"
- Jim P. Brock

"This mixed-audience book answers many questions readers probably have never thought about these charismatic insects. Davies and Butler have produced a work about butterflies (and moths) that offers more than mere trivia. ... it is a useful addition to the 'insect-answers' literature. Recommended."
---Choice

Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Butterfly Basics
1: What is a butterfly?
2: Is it a butterfly or is it a moth?
3: Why are they called butterflies?
4: What is a skipper?
5: How long does a butterfly live?
6: Does every butterfly of the same species look alike?
7: Which butterflies and moths are the largest in the world?
8: Which butterflies and moths are the smallest in the world?
9: How much does a butterfly weigh?
10: What is a group of butterflies called?
11: Are there special words that describe people who love or hate butterflies and moths?
Chapter 2: Butterfly Bodies
1: Does a butterfly have bones?
2: How does a butterfly breathe?
3: Does a butterfly have a heart?
4: Do butterflies bleed?
5: Do butterflies have good eyesight?
6: Do butterflies have ears?
7: Do butterflies have a sense of smell?
8: How many legs does a butterfly have?
9: How many wings does a butterfly have?
10: What are butterfly wings made of?
11: What makes the wings colorful?
12: What happens if a wing gets torn or damaged?
13: Is it true that a butterfly will no longer be able to fly if you touch its wings?
14: Why are butterflies called "cold-blooded"?
Chapter 3: Butterfly Life
1: Do butterflies bite?
2: How do butterflies eat?
3: What do butterflies eat?
4: How do butterflies find their food?
5: Is it true that some butterflies and moths don't eat or drink?
6: What are butterflies doing when they gather on the ground?
7: Do all moths really eat your clothes?
8: How do butterflies excrete?
9: Do butterflies sleep?
10: Do butterflies ever make noises?
11: Do butterflies communicate?
12: Can butterflies learn?
13: Do butterflies carry diseases?
14: What colors attract butterflies?
15: Why are moths attracted to lights?
16: How fast do butterflies fly?
17: Which butterfly can fly the longest distance?
18: How high do butterflies fly?
19: Do all butterflies fly?
20: How do butterflies survive in cold climates if they need to be warm to fly? Chapter 4: Butterfly Background
1: Why are scientific names used in this book?
2: How are butterflies classified?
3: How is a species identified?
4: How many families of butterflies are there?
5: How many species of butterflies are alive today?
6: When did butterflies and moths first appear on earth?
7: Where are butterflies found?
8: Why are most butterflies found in the tropics?
Chapter 5: Butterfly Love
1: How can you tell the difference between a male and a female butterfly?
2: Is it possible for a butterfly to be both male and female?
3: How does a butterfly attract a mate?
4: How does a butterfly select a mate?
5: How do butterflies mate?
6: Are butterflies monogamous?
7: Do butterflies only mate with their own species?
8: What does a butterfly egg look like?
9: Where do butterflies lay their eggs?
10: How many eggs does a butterfly lay?
11: How long does it take for the eggs to hatch?
Chapter 6: Metamorphosis
1: How does a caterpillar become a butterfly?
2: What is metamorphosis?
3: What is the difference between a caterpillar and a larva?
4: What do caterpillars eat?
5: Does a caterpillar have a skeleton?
6: How does a caterpillar grow?
7: What's the difference between a chrysalis and a pupa?
8: What happens inside the pupa?
9: What happens when the butterfly is ready to emerge from its chrysalis?
10: What is a cocoon?
11: How does a moth get out of its cocoon?
12: What is a silkworm?
13: What does a jumping bean have to do with moths and butterflies?
14: What is the lifespan of a butterfly including all its stages?
Chapter 7: Dangers And Defenses
1: Do people eat butterflies and moths?
2: What dangers do caterpillars face?
3: How do caterpillars defend themselves?
4: What dangers do butterflies face?
5: How do butterflies defend themselves?
6: Are butterflies poisonous?
7: Do toxic butterflies have any predators?
8: Why do some butterflies have eye-like spots on their wings?
9: Can a butterfly or moth harm me?
10: How does an egg defend itself?
11: How does a pupa defend itself?
12: Do butterflies fight?
13: How do butterflies survive harsh weather?
Chapter 8: Butterflies On The Move
1: Do all butterflies migrate?
2: Why do they migrate?
3: How do scientists study migration patterns?
4: How do Monarchs navigate over long distances?
5: Do all migrating Monarchs go to the same place?
6: How long does it take Monarch butterflies to migrate south?
7: What allows the migrating generation of Monarchs to live so long?
8: How do Monarchs know when to migrate?
9: How do migratory Monarchs know where to go?
10: How far can butterflies fly without stopping to rest?
11: Does each butterfly travel south to Mexico and back to the U S or Canada? Chapter 9: Outdoor Butterflies
1: Are butterflies and moths of any ecological value?
2: Is it true that some butterflies and moths have a negative impact on the environment?
3: Why don't I see as many butterflies as I used to?
4: How can I encourage butterflies to visit and breed in my garden?
5: What is a nectar plant?
6: What is a host plant?
7: Why is it important to know the difference between native and exotic species of plants and animals?
8: What other garden features can I provide for butterflies?
9: Can I use pesticides in my butterfly garden?
10: Do people still collect butterflies?
11: Are any species of butterflies threatened or endangered?
12: Are any butterfly species extinct?
13: What are people doing to protect butterflies?
14: Where can I go butterfly watching?
15: How can I see more moths?
16: Are there any tips for photographing butterflies?
17: Is it safe to release butterflies at weddings and other events?
Chapter 10: Indoor Butterflies
1: What is a butterfly conservatory?
2: When did conservatories first appear?
3: Why are conservatories often so hot?
4: Do butterflies reproduce in the conservatory?
5: Where do the butterflies come from?
6: Do all the different species get along?
7: What do you feed the butterflies?
8: What happens at night?
9: Do indoor butterflies recognize their keepers?
10: How can I attract a butterfly to land on me?
11: Can I raise butterflies at home?
Appendices
Appendix A: Selected nectar plants for North American butterflies and moths
Appendix B: Host plants of selected North American butterflies and moths
Appendix C: Public butterfly conservatories and exhibits
Appendix D: Website resources
Appendix E: Organizations
Appendix F: Suggestions for further reading
Appendix G: Species list of butterflies and moths
Sources
Index
Color insert follows page 96

Hazel Davies is the living exhibits coordinator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. She formerly worked as a science teacher.

Carol A. Butler is a psychotherapist in private practice, a writer, a photographer, and a docent at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Related topics: Science / Earth Sciences