BOOK REVIEWS
taring at particular flowers) with data on
adult proboscis lengths; and larval foods
and life histories in general.
The main text takes up the individual
species. Full data are given about each,
based on a thorough study of the literature
as well as the experience of the authors. No
other book on North American butterflies
contains so much information. Distribution
summaries are given, with maps. In addition, adult identification characteristics;
habitats; abundance or rarity; seasonality;
adult behavior and flight habits; flowers visited and nectaring preferences; involvement in mimicry complexes, if any; terrestrial behavior; protective coloration and actions; courtships and matings; larval
characteristics and foodplants; and many
other details are included. This reviewer, in
fact, can think of nothing important that has
been left out, although he would like to see
more about predators, parasites and dis·
eases, population fluctuations and the ultra·
violet patterns that function in courtships.
There are separate indices for butterflies
and plants. In the latter are listed chiefly
those used as food by adults and larvae. It
is a bit bothersome that in the butterfly
index the trivial names are given only
under their genera, not listed separately;
and so can be looked up only if the generic
name is known. The bibliography is excellent and up·to-date, but is not, of course,
"complete." The authors are to be highly
congratulated on their creation of what will
certainly become a classic.
Alexander B. Klots
Putnam, Conn.
Butterflies
Flourish in
Saudi Arabia
Butterflies of Saudi Arabia and
its Neighbours
Torben B. Larsen
1984. Stacey International, London.
160 pp. £22.00
This book is the first of its kind dealing with
butterflies of SaudiArabia and its neighbors,
although part of it has been published as a
38
scientific monograph on Arabian butterflies
(Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 1983, Basel).
The first chapter briefly describes the
butterfly and its place in the animal
kingdom. It seems that the author was confused between Endopterygota and Exopterygota. The author places butterflies under
the division Exopterygota, which he called
"with pupal stage." In fact, all insect ta..xonomists agree that the order Lepidoptera,
including butterflies, should be placed
under Endopterygota (insects that develop
wings internally). It is strange that he also
places Coleoptera, Siphonaptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera under Exopterygota,
whereas they should also be placed under
Endopterygota. The characteristics the author has mentioned to distinguish butterflies and moths from the other flying insects
in Arabia were not satisfactory.
The second chapter describes butterfly
life cycles by showing different shapes and
patterns of eggs, larvae, and pupae rather
than actual life cycles. The author did not
use proper entomological terms when describing mouthparts, instead referring to
them as jaws.
Chapter three examines Arabian butterflies. It starts with classification, where the
author places all Arabian butterflies under
five families. Actually, this is the largest
chapter in the book and presents a good
overview of these butterflies.
The contents of chapter four concern
butterfly variation and are divided into individual variation, sexual variation, seasonal
variation, geographical variation and gynandromorphs, and intersexes. Chapter five
describes general structure and physiology.
Chapter six covers two aspects of butterfly behaviour: courtship and feeding behaviour. Chapter seven describes "where
butterflies are found." This discussion contains some excellent pictures but these are
not referred to in the text. Chapter eight
considers 'Enemies and Defense'; the author considers the impressive reproductive
potential of butterflies to be their first line
of defense.
Chapter nine deals with "butterflies' migration." The author considers Arabian but·
terflies to include three categories of mi·
grants. Chapter ten is about "butterfly geography." It deals with major faunal regions
and biogeographical composition of Ara-
bian butterflies. It includes maps which are,
unfortunately, not referred to in the text.
"Chapter eleven" is one page entitled "Butterflies as pests." The information included
is scanty and could have been included in
a previous chapter. The final chapter is on
conservation and collection and concentrates on long-term management policy for
the natural heritage of Arabia. A few notes
on how to collect butterflies are given, as
is a short note on how to breed them. The
best attraction is the collection of 23 color
plates that illustrate 477 butterflies. A bibliography is included, but unfortunately the
references are not cited in the text, while
some information and statements in the
text are not documented with references.
The author also includes a list of references
on ecology, flora and other aspects of Arabian natural history which have no apparent relationship to the book's subject.
An appendix is included on Arabian butterflies and their distribution.
Butterflies of Saudi Arabia and its
Neighbours is particularly recommended
for professional entomologists in the Arabian region and those interested in Arabian
butterflies.
Saeed A. Ba-Angood
Department of Crop Protection
Faculty of Agric., Univ. of Aden
Khormakser, Aden, PDRYemen
Taxonomic Guide
to American
Insects
American Insects-A Handbook of the
Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett, Jr.
1985. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New
York. 850 pp. $79.50
This is a unique book, giving a synopsis of
the insects of America north of Mexico. All
orders, families, subfamilies, and tribes are
listed in taxonomic arrangement, with a
listing of the genera and subgenera contained in each, the number of recognized
species in each taxon, and an indication of
geographic distributions. The economic
species are included, with their common
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