The language of butterflies : how thieves, hoarders, scientists, and other obsessives unlocked the secrets of the world's favorite insect Cover Image

Book

The language of butterflies : how thieves, hoarders, scientists, and other obsessives unlocked the secrets of the world's favorite insect / Wendy Williams.

Williams, Wendy, 1950- (author.).

Summary:

"In this fascinating book from the New York Times bestselling author of The Horse, Wendy Williams explores the lives of one of the world's most resilient creatures--the butterfly--shedding light on the role that they play in our ecosystem and in our human lives"-- Provided by publisher.

From butterfly gardens to zoo exhibitions, we've encouraged them to infiltrate our lives. Williams reveals the inner lives of these 'flying flowers' and shows that butterflies are far more intelligent and tougher than we give them credit for. She takes readers to butterfly habitats across the globe and introduces us to not only various species, but to the scientists who have dedicated their lives to studying them. -- adapted from jacket

Record details

ISBN: 9781501178061
ISBN: 1501178067
ISBN: 9781501178078
ISBN: 1501178075
Physical Description: xiv, 224 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : color illustrations ; 24 cm
Edition: First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster, 2020.
Copyright: ©2020

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references.

Formatted Contents Note:

Introduction -- Past. The gateway drug ; Down the rabbit hole ; The number one butterfly ; Flash and dazzle ; How butterflies saved Charles Darwin's bacon -- Present. Amelia's butterfly ; A parasol of monarchs ; The honeymoon hotel ; Seablands ; On the Raindance Ranch ; A sense of mystical wonder -- Future. The social butterfly ; Paroxysms of ecstasy ; The butterfly highway -- Epilogue: In the mountains of Mexico.