Butterflies of the World.

BUTTERFLIES OF THE WORLD

GILES MARTIN AND MYRIAM BARAN

With their rich diversity of more than 200,000 species worldwide, striking coloring, and amazing life cycles, butterflies and moths capture people's imaginations. French photographer Martin offers vivid, detailed photographs of these creatures. Each photograph is accompanied by Baran's text describing facts about that particular species of butterfly or moth. In other sections, Baran provides more detail about the metamorphic life cycles of the insects, their mating techniques, their eating habits and pollination of specific flowers, their defense techniques against predators, and their migration habits. She also details the relationships between people and lepidoptera. Baran notes that most people believe they have few practical uses for butterflies and moths, even though countless collectors passionately pursue them. To counter this misconception, she emphasizes the importance of these creatures for pollination and thus the need for their protection. Abrams, 2006, 220 p., color photos, hardcover, $35.00.