Butterflies have a tantalizing beauty that has intrigued humans for thousands of years. Ancient peoples carved images into stone and thought them messengers from the gods. Mythologies of diverse cultures today still accord them special status. We are drawn to their flashing color patterns, elusive flight, seemingly endless varieties, fleeting appearances and astonishing life histories. Worldwide, there are perhaps 14,500 species of butterflies and skippers, most of them in the tropics. More species are to be found in the American tropics, about 6,000, than anywhere else in the world. The metamorphosis of butterflies remains one of natures most fascinating wonders.
James A. Scott started studying butterflies in 7th grade, when his mother made him a net from opaque red material and a coat hanger. One of his first treasured butterflies was a Giant Swallowtail, found sipping manure in a cattle pen, which was preserved in a jar with grass. From these crude beginnings, he went on to study butterflies on weekends and school vacations, and received a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley, doing his thesis on the behavior of adult butterflies. He served on the faculties of the University of California at Davis, and Colorado State University, and currently is involved with a multitude of projects, including writing, and consulting work for conservation organizations. He has studied butterflies throughout North America, and in Panama, Columbia, and Africa. He pioneered the study of mate-locating behavior of butterflies, discovered thousands of new hostplants for western North American butterflies, and has discovered and named dozens of new butterflies. Requires Windows and CD-ROM drive.
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