A detailed study of 57 sphingid species occurring in Europe (Ireland to the Urals), North Africa and the Middle East, placing particular emphasis on ecological factors governing population and distribution. The colour plates depict adults of all species, larvae of 40 species and 5 subspecies, and 13 types of habitat. A major work, of interest to lepidopterists and conservationists.

A detailed study of 57 sphingid species occurring in Europe (Ireland to the Urals), North Africa and the Middle East, placing particular emphasis on ecological factors governing population and distribution. The colour plates depict adults of all species, larvae of 40 species and 5 subspecies, and 13 types of habitat. A major work, of interest to lepidopterists and conservationists.

Hawkmoths are large charismatic insects with highly variable and colourful larvae. Some species are specialised in their habitat preferences, but others are widespread and often encountered in gardens. However, little is known about most species, and associating the adults with their larvae has previously been difficult or impossible. Hawkmoths of Australia allows identification of all of the Australian hawkmoths for the first time and treats species found on mainland Australia, Tasmania and all offshore islands within Australian limits. It presents previously undescribed life histories of nearly all species and provides a comprehensive account of hawkmoth biology, including new parasitoids and their hawkmoth hosts. Detailed drawings and photographs show the external and internal morphology of adults and immatures, and eggs, larval instars and pupa. Keys are provided for last instar larvae and pupae of the 71 species that the authors have reared. The book is concluded by a glossary, appendices to parasitoids and larval foodplants, an extensive reference list with bibliographical notes and a comprehensive index. The wealth of new information in this book makes it an essential reference for anyone interested in these moths. Hawkmoths of Australia is Volume 13 of the Monographs on Australian Lepidoptera Series.

The first list to cover the entire European fauna of butterflies and moths since the famous Staudinger-Rebel Catalogue which was published as long ago as in 1901. A large number of European specialists have been working on the family/subfamily treatments, and the list has been checked by leading experts in the national faunas. The higher classification used in the checklist is in accordance with the most recent research as presented in the treatment of Lepidoptera in the series Handbook of Zoology. Hopefully the list will lead to uniformity in the systematics and nomenclature used in European lepidopterology. Besides being a checklist, The Lepidoptera of Europe also indicates in table form, in which of the European countries each species has been recorded. The occurrence is indicated for the following countries/regions: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corsica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sardinia, Sicily, the European part of the former Soviet Union (apart from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the European part of Turkey, and the former Yugoslavia. As the checklist has been under preparation since the mid 1980's, some of the recent changes of the European borders could not be taken into account. The Lepidoptera of Europe contains more than 8,300 species known to occur in Europe and the distributional tables have approximately 74,000 records. The Lepidoptera of Europe will be an indispensable tool for anyone working with the European fauna of any group of Lepidoptera. The book is published in a limited edition of only 800 copies.

“For the lover of all things lepidopterous, The Book of Caterpillars is a beautifully curated collection and guide to 600 species from around the globe.” —The American Biology Teacher While most of us picture caterpillars as cute fuzzballs munching on leaves, there is much more to them than we imagine. A caterpillar’s survival hinges on finding enough food and defending itself from the array of natural enemies lined up to pounce and consume. And the astounding adaptations and strategies they have developed to maximize their chances of becoming a butterfly or moth are only just beginning to be understood, from the Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar that resembles a small snake to the Eastern Carpenter Bee Hawkmoth caterpillar that attempts to dissuade potential predators by looking like a diseased leaf. The Book of Caterpillars unveils the mysteries of six hundred species from around the world, introducing readers to the complexity and beauty of these underappreciated insects. With the advent of high-quality digital macrophotography, the world of caterpillars is finally opening up. The book presents a wealth of stunning imagery that showcases the astonishing diversity of caterpillar design, structure, coloration, and patterning. Each entry also features a two-tone engraving of the adult specimen, emphasizing the wing patterns and shades, as well as a population distribution map and table of essential information that includes their habitat, typical host plants, and conservation status. Throughout the book are fascinating facts that will enthrall expert entomologists and curious collectors alike. A visually rich and scientifically accurate guide to six hundred of the world’s most peculiar caterpillars, this volume presents readers with a rare, detailed look at these intriguing forms of insect life.

This book provides a complete overview of cutting-edge research on insect sex pheromones and pheromone communication systems. The coverage ranges from the chemistry, biosynthesis, and reception of sex pheromones to the control of odor-source searching behavior, and from molecules to the application of research findings to robotics. The book both summarizes the progress of studies conducted using Bombyx mori and several groups of moths and reviews sex pheromones of some non-lepidopteran insect groups of agricultural importance. Attention is drawn to recent findings on elaborate neural information processing in the brain in male moths and to the importance of olfactory receptors specifically tuned to sex pheromone molecules. Featuring contributions from leading experts on the topic, this book will be a unique and valuable resource for researchers and students in the fields of entomology, chemical ecology, insect physiology and biochemistry, evolution, biomimetics, and bioengineering. In addition to researchers, general insect lovers will find the book fascinating for its descriptions of the marvelous abilities of insects and the underlying mechanisms involved.

A complete handbook providing an extensive introduction to the biology, ecology and behaviour of the Zygaenidae. The introduction provides detailed information on zygaenid systematics and phylogeny, life cycles, morphology, zoogeography and palaeontology, genetics and individual variation, ecology and behaviour, conservation, collecting and breeding techniques. In the systematic part of the book, the 115 species of westen Palaearctic Zygaenidae, currently contained in the three subfamilies Procridinae, Chalcosiinae and Zygaeninae, are treated. Each species is briefly described, followed by differentiating characters of similar species, individual and geographical variation, distribution (with maps for each species), ecology, behaviour, early instars and larval foodplants. Colour plates illustrate all species and the male and female genitalia of the Procridinae are also figured. A bibliography provides references to the most relevant literature for those interested in current research.