Butterflies of the World: A Guide to Every Subfamily
By (Author) Blanca Huertas
By (author) Shinichi Nakahara
Princeton University Press
Princeton University Press
10th December 2025
United States
Tertiary Education
Non Fiction
Insects (entomology)
Hardback
240
Width 171mm, Height 241mm
A lavishly illustrated guide to the diversity of the world's butterflies
Conspicuous for their beauty, butterflies are one of the most popular and well-studied insects. This book explores the astonishing variety of butterfly species around the world and examines their central role in maintaining a range of delicate ecosystems. Their adaptability and incredible beauty have ensured their survival, such as the ability to shift host plants at different life stages and the colorful wing patterns they use for mimicry, camouflage, and predator deterrence. In this expert guide, the introductory section covers topics ranging from anatomy and evolution to life stages and conservation. A directory of profiles follows, highlighting the remarkable appearance, characteristics, and ecology of notable species. Blending the latest science with breathtaking illustrations, Butterflies of the World is the premier guide to these exquisite creatures.
Blanca Huertas is Principal Curator of Lepidoptera at the Natural History Museum in London, where she oversees the museum's butterfly collections. Shinichi Nakahara is Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University, where his research centers on Neotropical butterfly systematics.