Books : Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions (California Natural History Guides)
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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 595.78909794
EAN num: 9780520249578
ISBN number: 0520249577
Label: University of California Press
Manufacturer: University of California Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 359
Printing Date: June 05, 2007
Publishing house: University of California Press
Sale Popularity Level: 432203
Studio: University of California Press
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Product Description:
The California Tortoiseshell, West Coast Lady, Red Admiral, and Golden Oak Hairstreak are just a few of the many butterfly species found in the floristically rich San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley regions. This guide, written for both beginning and experienced butterfly watchers by one of the nation's best-known professional lepidopterists, provides thorough, up-to-date information on all of the butterfly species found in this diverse and accessible region. Written in lively prose, it discusses the natural history and conservation status for these butterflies and at the same time provides an integrated view of butterfly biology based on studies conducted in northern California and around the world. Compact enough for use in the field, the guide also includes tips on butterfly watching, photography, gardening, and more.
* Discusses and identifies more than 130 species
* Species accounts include information on identifying butterflies through behavior, markings, and host plants
* Beautiful full-colour plates illustrate top and bottom views of wings for easier identification
* Includes a species checklist and a glossary
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Rated by buyers 
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Professor Art Shapiro has studied the ecology and evolution of butterflies in the area around Davis, CA, for more than 30 years. This book is not only an excellent field guide, but it also contains a career-full of natural history observations, not only on butterflies, but also on the rest of central California's natural world.
Rated by buyers 
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I had been eagerly anticipating the release of this book for months but must admit to being disappointed upon reading through it. Finally I thought, A Butterfly Book written specifically for the region I live in! This is a "Me Too" book about butterflies at best. The Best part of this book I admit is the introduction. Beyond that, there is really nothing new and the butterfly information would make anyone yawn for lack of any new substance.
Rated by buyers -
Best known for his prolific hard science publications on butteflies, Arthur M. Shapiro helps lead an elite branch of 21st century scientists and critical thinkers studying butterfly biology. With increasing genetic and biological sophistication they study what constitutes a species, the complex relationships between different butterfly populations, the unusual evolutionarily conserved reactions in butterfly phenotype to cooler and warmer weather, and all sorts of esoteric, peer journal debated theory in butterfly biology............but not here.
Instead, I was delighted to find a very accessable, well written, good natured and often humorous field guide, to the butterflies of the bay area, written by this scientist.
The treatment of individual species is stunningly detailed, and the plates illustrating the species are just fine, and logically organized (e.g the blue copper is with similar looking blues for comparison, rather than the coppers).
In addition, all sorts of useful specific information about finding butterflies, rearing larvae, butterfly gardening, and things to do with butterflies is layed out in the tightly written text.
As might be expected for a veteran UC Davis thesis professor, Arthur M. Shapiro does touch on big emerging or ongoing debates in butterfly biology, but in an easy introductory way, without the traditional academic qualification of every aspect of every point proposed. These debates can be quite interesting, too. A troubling trend toward declining California butterfly numbers is examined in some detail.
Overall this book is a masterpiece, which colorfully details countless discoveries in butterfly natural history. It's a real joy to read. I definitely recommend it.
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