A family member asked me to start a Christmas wish list.... can't believe it's that time of year already!! I thought I would put on the list a field guide to ID butterflies.
I have several of the Audobon field guides (birds, mushrooms, wildflowers, mammals, trees... I think a couple more) but I do not have the one on butterflies.
In the past, I didn't need one because I saw very few butterflies.
In the past two years, I have downsized my garden from a daylily nursery and am going back to mixed perennial borders. I bought a lot of plants that the wonderful nursery nearby recommended as tough plants, and also attract butterflies, hummers and bees. (Bee Balms, Phlox, Agastache, Azure sage.... many things.
This year I have seen more butterflies at my house than I ever have in the 20+ years I have lived there! And, hummers too!
Now, am curious to ID some of the butterflies / caterpillars. There was a beautiful black, yellow and white caterpillar hanging down from a leaf on my witchazel the other day.
Is the Audobon guide a good one for butterflies? Or, can you recommend another book?
Thanks!
Jules
book to ID butterflies?
Jules, the Audobon is probably a good one, you'll probably find out you'll want a few more. I have several which include a Kaufman Focus guide to Butterflies of North America and a Smithsonian handbook.
Congrats on getting more butterflies in your yard!
Hi Jules,
I really like a state specific book!! I probably have every one thats been published for Florida...it get's overwhelming for me to look at a huge book when Im trying to ID someone.
Adrienne
OK, thanks!
I would not have thought of a state specific book. I'll have to see what I can find.
In the sticky thread at the beginning of this forum, there is a link to a thread about some good ID books:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/744904/
Jules,
One of my favorites is Glassberg's "Butterflies through Binoculars". Kaufman's "Butterflies of North America" is one of the best, for the way it is organized. Don't care much for the National Audubon series. Both of the above best price and shipping is via Amazon.com.
Rod
Rod, thank you.... I will check into those. Perhaps I can get them through the library first to check them out.
beckygardener.... I didn't check the sticky because I thought it would only have to do with raising butterflies! I guess I should have looked there anyway! LOL
I appreciate all of your help!
Kaufman Focus Guide - Butterflies of North America by Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman is a great guide book.
As for caterpillars:
Brock, Glassberg and Allen's book Caterpillars in the Field and Garden
Dave Wagner's - Caterpillars of Northeastern America
Minno's book on Florida's butterfly, chrysalids and caterpillars is good too but it's geared to the south.
~Cat
Looked at online library catalog and Library has
Butterflies of North America / Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman.
and
Kaufman field guide to butterflies of North America / Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman ; with the collaboration of Rick and Nora Bowers and Lynn Hassler Kaufman.
both are Houghton Mifflin, c2003.
Are they the same book? Cover looks different.
_____
mentioned above was a hint to get a book that was area specific. I found these two listed at the library site...
Butterflies and skippers of Ohio / David C. Iftner, John A. Shuey, John V. Calhoun.
by Iftner, David C.
Columbus, Ohio : College of Biological Sciences, Ohio State University, 1992.
Common butterflies and skippers of Ohio / David K. Parshall, Horace B. Davidson, John T. Watts.
by Parshall, David K.
[Columbus] : Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, 2003.
anyone know anything about these?
Mark333 put up a post back in December about sending a SASE for a free booklet "Common Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio" that was put out by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife in partnership with the Ohio Lepdopterists. It's a 50 page 5x7' booklet that has excellent photos and information. Perhaps you can d-mail Mark333 to find out if there are any left.
There is a new edition of the Kaufman Focus Guide. The main difference was they added butterflies that strayed over to south Texas from Mexico and further south.
The 2006 edition has a photo of a Red Admiral on the cover:
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=831628587&searchurl=an%3Dbrock%2Bkaufman%26kn%3Dbutterflies%2Bnorth%2Bamerica%26sts%3Dt%26x%3D35%26y%3D9
The 2002 edition has a Tiger Swallowtail on the cover. (you can get this edition really cheap at Amazon. It's the best buy for it that I've come across. I ought to know I purchased six of them several months ago to give to friends and relatives.
http://www.amazon.com/Butterflies-North-America-Kaufman-Guides/dp/0618153128/ref=sr_1_1/103-0867704-3632621?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188832416&sr=8-1
~ Cat