Review by Choice Review
Caterpillars represent the larval stage of moths and butterflies, and this book covers over 600 species. In the introduction Wagner (Univ. of Connecticut) covers morphology, behavior, predators, and the life cycle of caterpillars; and how to find, raise, photograph, and preserve them. The book briefly mentions classification and nomenclature, but a helpful feature is the color-coding of family sections. The body of the book is the approximately 400 full-page species accounts, along with some less detailed family accounts. The typical page has a large color photo of the caterpillar, a small inset of the adult moth or butterfly, and a few sentences each on recognition, occurrence (including very sketchy range information), and food plants. A remarks section covers caterpillar behavior, where to find caterpillars, brief taxonomic notes, and various other details that vary from species to species. There are variations on this theme. The rationale for the sequence within families is not clear, but at least it is not alphabetical. Limitations include lack of range maps and phenology information. For those species such as the tiger swallowtail, which show dramatic color and pattern changes from one instar to another, only one stage is shown. Nonetheless, this is an excellent way to learn as well as to identify. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. All levels. M. Gochfeld Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
