Butterflies of the Kruger National Park and Surrounds

Book excerpt: Butterflies of the Kruger National Park and Surrounds enables identification of these colourful creatures and hopes to promote general interest in the natural world. A lavish and fascinating introduction raises topics such as classification of Lepidoptera, butterfly behavior, names, biology and life cycle, flower adaptations, larval host plants, etc. Each family is first described, then the subfamily, followed by the genus and finally the species. Each of the known KNP butterfly species is dealt with on its own page, with its common and scientific names, life history, etymology and larval host plants. On the opposite page is a gallery of photographs of the butterfly in its environment, often complemented with life cycle and larval host plant photographs. A distribution map is provided for each butterfly species, with red dots indicating KNP rest camps where the butterfly is found, and a pie chart showing the butterfly’s status – how rare or how common it is.