Photographer Gilles Martin brings the extraordinary life of butterflies and moths to the page in this gorgeous volume. These spectacular images capture the insects’ astonishing metamorphosis from caterpillar to winged adult as well as their vast diversity, The photographs are complemented by text from the animal behaviorist and nature expert Myriam Baran, who tells would-be lepidopterists everything they need to know about these animals.

Butterflies are among the planet’s most majestic creatures, brilliantly colored and exquisitely patterned. Lepidoptera is the second-largest order of insects, and one in ten insects is a butterfly or moth. More than/75,000 species have been spotted around the world.

Photographer Gilles Martin brings the extraordinary life of butterflies and moths to the page in this gorgeous volume. These spectacular images capture the insects’ astonishing metamorphosis from caterpillar to winged adult as well as their vast diversity, The photographs are complemented by text from the animal behaviorist and nature expert Myriam Baran, who tells would-be lepidopterists everything they need to know about these animals.

Despite their beauty, many butterflies and moths are considered agricultural pests, and still more have lost their natural habitats through human encroachment. Today many species are endangered.

From the recognizable Monarch to lesserknown types, Butterflies of the World gives readers a comprehensive look at this magnificent insect.

Introduction

The Genius of Diversity

Butterflies by Day, Moths by Night

Versatile Mouths

The Colors and Shapes of Survival

The World of Caterpillars

Insatiable Appetites

Too Beautiful to Touch

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

The World of Butterflies and Moths

Bodies Built for Love

Astonishingly Keen Senses

Hordes on Migration

Lepidoptera and Humans

The Birthplace of Silk

Great Public and Private Collections

Conservation and the Future

Conclusion

Index

Bibliography