Moths A complete guide to biology and behavior

David Conway Lees, 1959-

Book - 2019

Moths are a crucial insect group encompassing more than 160,000 species, and they are among the most ancient of Earth's inhabitants, with some fossils believed to be 190 million years old. This richly illustrated guide to their biology, evolution, and history demonstrates the incredible diversity of these winged insects and reveals the ruthless survival tactics used by some--including blood-sucking moths, cannibalism in the cocoon, and carnivorous caterpillars. The book also explores their extraordinary life cycle, charting development from egg to larva to cocoon to airborne adult, as well as the surprising variations of color and wing patterns that moths have evolved. Engaging narrative and specially commissioned photographs of moth s...pecimens make Moths: A Complete Guide to Biology and Behavior a perfect gift book for scientists and science enthusiasts alike.--amazon.com.

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Subjects
Published
Washington, DC : Smithsonian Books [2019]
Language
English
Main Author
David Conway Lees, 1959- (author)
Other Authors
Alberto Zilli (author)
Item Description
Simultaneously published: London : Natural History Museum.
Physical Description
208 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), maps ; 26 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (page 202) and index.
ISBN
9781588346544
  • Introduction. What is a moth?
  • Blueprint for success
  • Becoming a moth
  • A matter of taste
  • Mating
  • Moth warfare
  • Diversity and distribution
  • Evolution in action
  • Of moths and man
  • Appendix
  • Further information
  • Beginner's guide to species
  • Glossary.
Review by Booklist Review

What exactly is a moth? Most people would say ""a less pretty, night-flying butterfly relative."" While the two groups are closely related, forming the Order Lepidoptera, butterflies usually get all the glory. Lepidopterists Lees and Zelli steal the limelight back in this thorough and scientific survey of the world's moths. Like many insects, moths exhibit a myriad of weird (to us mammals) and wonderful ways to live their lives, and the authors provide concise elucidation of their biology and ecology. Beginning with moth anatomy, they then cover the fascinating metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult. A chapter on foods and feeding reveals some real oddities, such as caterpillars that capture flies or feed on live snails, and adult moths that drink the tears of sleeping birds. Meeting the opposite sex can involve scents (pheromones), sounds, and appearance, with some species' females dispensing with wings altogether and relying on males coming to them. Chapters on the diversity of moths (close to 140,000 species), moth evolution, and human interactions complete an excellent and well-illustrated survey.--Nancy Bent Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 9 Up--Lees and Zilli detail the physical descriptions and needs of moths and offer many eye-catching pictures, drawings, and diagrams. The authors discuss the basics of biology, including mating and feeding, but students might find chapters on moth warfare and their effects on humans especially fascinating. There is also a sprinkling of the history of moths and moth research. The book often refers to scientific classifications, so students who have no knowledge of taxonomy (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species) or binomial nomenclature (Latin names) might find the text difficult. VERDICT This is not the book for the idle insect enthusiast wanting pretty pictures with simple text. Suitable in a secondary school library with a need for specific, high-level titles on order Lepidoptera or moths.--Kim Gardner, Fort Worth Country Day School, TX

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