The Book of Caterpillars

If you know a true natural history nerd, this is the gift to choose. --Wall Street Journal The caterpillar is the immature stage for the moth and butterfly, transforming into the winged adult via pupation. The 600 varieties represented here comprise a small fraction of 160,000 known species. Nevertheless, the cosmopolitan coverage of representative taxa does begin to capture the diversity of these insects while elucidating their lesser-known, immature forms. In a concise introduction, James defines caterpillars, their survival role, and how they contribute to the natural ecosystem, as well as the diverse ways in which humans interact with them. The bulk of the work consists of single-page species templates organized by family; these provide geographical distribution, habitat, host plants, notes, and conservation status, as well as a couple of informative paragraphs and a life-size color photograph of the caterpillar. Some species also are illustrated by a larger photograph that provides rich detail. The format, size, and weight of the book precludes most users from taking it to the field, but the overall editing is superb. The overview of caterpillars is current, necessarily succinct, and may find the largest audience in those wanting an introduction to this relatively overlooked insect form. Highly recommended. --CHOICE Lovely images are accompanied by two-tone engravings of caterpillar adults, a population distribution map, and details about their natural history and conservation. Many caterpillar books are either part of larger butterfly identification discussions and guides or are geared to novices and younger readers; but The Book of Caterpillars's in-depth and scientifically accurate examination makes for a top pick for college-level collections strong in entomology. --Donovan's Literary Services