United States
£ GBP
British & Irish Butterfly Rarities is the first book to focus solely on those butterfly species regarded as extinctions, rare migrants or introductions. There are 59 butterfly species that are considered resident or regular migrants to Britain and Ireland, yet there are another 63 species whose story deserves to be told.
The history of each extinct species, such as the Black-veined White and Large Copper, is spelt out, together with any reintroduction attempts. Our rarest migrants, such as the Camberwell Beauty and Long-tailed Blue, are also included, with a focus on those years when there have been large influxes and, in some cases, evidence of breeding. The book also discusses deliberate introductions, such as the European Map, as well as adventives that have been accidentally introduced, including the Geranium Bronze. Historical errors are also included, such as the infamous record of Albin's Hampstead Eye, an Indo-Australasian species.
The distribution, habitat, status and life cycle of all primary species are discussed in detail, accompanied by hundreds of lavish images of adults, eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides, habitat and foodplants. These are exciting times in terms of our butterfly fauna and the prospect of new species arriving on our shores, such as the Southern Small White, is also discussed.
This book complements the highly acclaimed Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies by the same author.
"This is a remarkable book. There is barely room for yet another UK butterfly book on our creaking shelves, but this is quite different to anything previously seen. [...] Each species is dealt with thoroughly and the book is littered with things you didn't know [...] Peter Eeles' detailed analyses, presented in an interesting and accessible form, make an unusual and important contribution to our entomological literature. This is a beautifully produced book and a very good read. It is highly recommended."
– John Tennent, Atropos 73, July 2024
