Alison Davies - The Little Guide to Butterflies

Whether youre new to the world of butterflies or an avid fan, theres no doubt thatthe mesmerising creatures offered up in these pages will capture your heart. Sucha vibrant array of colours, intricate patterns and sheer beauty, portrayed in a collectionof prints that encapsulate the essence of each individual butterfly, along with descriptionsand interesting facts to bring each image to life. Its no wonder that these insectshave fascinated humankind for centuries.

A long-standing symbol of transformation, a butterfly goes through a huge processof change, metamorphosing from egg to larva, then pupa (also called chrysalis) andfinally emerging fully formed. It may look delicate but it has the strength to withstandeach change and a number of other adaptations that serve it well in its short lifespan.In mythology throughout the world, the butterfly represents the soul and its journeyin this life and the next. It appears on Christian tombs and in artwork, and alsofeatures in folklore. In ancient Greece the goddess Psyche, whose name translatesas soul, is often depicted as a butterfly or a beautiful woman with butterfly wings.The Native Americans consider the butterfly a symbol of good fortune, and some tribesbelieve they bring the blessing of sleep and peaceful dreams. The butterfly is oneof natures wonders, each species with its own unique behaviour patterns.

In this book you will find a treasure trove of information to help you understandthese enigmatic creatures, and all the facts you need to explore their world. Theresa spotters guide at the back to help you find and identify all of the butterflieslisted and the carefully crafted images give you a sense of the great diversity ofthe butterfly world.

Welcome to the magical realm of butterflies!

Aglais io

WINGSPAN 6.3 to 7.5cm (2 to 3in)

HABITAT Meadows, fields, gardens and forests

DISTRIBUTION Widespread throughout Europe and across temperate Asia toJapan

LIFESPAN Up to 11 months (adults hibernate)

MALES AND FEMALES Males and females are similar in appearance, but thefemale is slightly larger than the male

This multicoloured gem of a butterfly gets its name from the stunning eyespots onits wings, which are thought to scare predators. A fan of many flowering plants,it can often be found sunning itself on a clump of dandelions, hemp or wild marjoram.It also feeds on rotting fruit and tree sap. The male perches high up to give himthe best view of flying females. Hell only mate with one female at a time, but sheis capable of producing batches of 400 eggs on nettles.

Anthocharis cardamines

WINGSPAN 4 to 5cm (1 to 2in)

HABITAT Meadows, gardens, riverbanks, hedgerows and woodland glades

DISTRIBUTION Most of Europe

LIFESPAN Around 4 weeks

MALES AND FEMALES Males are white with orange wing tips, females arealso white with dark-grey wing tips

A sign of spring, the Orange Tip emerges in April, indicating that the seasons arefinally changing and new growth is afoot. Once called the lady of the woods, inBritain, the French and German names LAurore and Aurorafalter also fittingly meanrising sun. The bright orange tips on the males wings are there to warn off predators,which is just as well as these ethereal creatures contain large amounts of mustardoil from their food plants. This means that although they look fabulous, they tastethe opposite.

Apatura iris

WINGSPAN 7.5 to 8.5cm (3 to 3in)

HABITAT Dense scrub, woodland areas

DISTRIBUTION Central Europe, parts of Asia, including central and westernChina

LIFESPAN Up to 3 weeks

MALES AND FEMALES Dark with white-banded wings, males have a purple sheen;females are brown with an orange-ringed eyespot under the forewing

This regal butterfly soars through the treetops and can be hard to spot. At firstglance the male looks black and white, but when the sunlight catches his wings aglorious purple-jewelled hue can be seen. This elusive butterfly prefers to perchhigh up but will come down to earth to feed on the mineral salts in soil, carrionand bird droppings. In folklore around the world butterflies are linked to the humansoul and purple butterflies, like the Apatura iris, are especially significant. Theyrepresent courage, faith and royalty, making the Purple Emperor the perfect namefor this creature.

Baeotus aeilus

WINGSPAN 7.5cm (3in)

HABITAT Lowland wet tropical forests

DISTRIBUTION Costa Rica to the Amazon basin

LIFESPAN 14 days

MALES AND FEMALES Males have a band of reflective blue scales on theirupperside, while the females are banded with pale orange

Incredibly rare, these beautiful butterflies like to hang out on riverbanks or anywherethe soil is wet and rich in mineral salts. They live on a diet of rotten fruit. Infolklore from this region the butterfly is associated with both fire and water andits easy to see how the ancients could draw this conclusion by looking at the coloursand the habitat of these winged creatures. With its vivid and distinct blue-blackupperside and speckled black-and-white with orange underside, the Amazon Beauty livesup to its name.

Bhutanitis lidderdalii

WINGSPAN 8.5 to 11cm (3 to 4in)

HABITAT Treetops, hills and ridges

DISTRIBUTION Bhutan, north-eastern parts of India and south-eastern partsof Asia

LIFESPAN 14 days

MALES AND FEMALES Males and females are almost identical in appearance

This mysterious swallowtail butterfly has quite a reputation. Preferring to fly infoggy, wet conditions, folklore suggests it makes an appearance once a year aftera monsoon. A high flier, it swoops and coasts sedately above the trees, which meansits the almost transparent, grey underside that is mostly seen. This view also givesit a ghost-like appearance as it blends into the canopy above. During the rainy seasonit perches on leaves and uses its front wings like a cloak to conceal any colourationthat might reveal its presence.