The Lives of Moths - (Lives of the Natural World) by Andrei Sourakov & Rachel Warren Chadd (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Moths are among the most underappreciated insects on the planet, yet they make up the majority of some 180,000 known species of Lepidoptera. Filled with striking images, The Lives of Moths looks at the remarkable world of these amazing and beautiful creatures. While butterflies may get more press than moths, Andrei Sourakov and Rachel Warren Chadd reveal that the lopsided attention is unjust. Moths evolved long before butterflies, and their importance cannot be overestimated. From the tiniest leaf miners to exotic hawk moths that are two hundred to three hundred times larger, these creatures are often crucial pollinators of flowers, including many that bloom at night or in twilight. The authors show that moths and their larvae are the main food source for thousands of animal species, and interact with other insect, plant, and vertebrate communities in ecosystems around the world, from tropical forests and alpine meadows to deserts and wetlands. The authors also explore such topics as evolution, life cycles, methods of communication, and links to humans. A feast of remarkable facts and details, The Lives of Moths will appeal to insect lovers everywhere."--

Book Synopsis

A richly illustrated look at the natural history of moths

Moths are among the most underappreciated insects on the planet, yet they make up the majority of some 180,000 known species of Lepidoptera. Filled with striking images, The Lives of Moths looks at the remarkable world of these amazing and beautiful creatures.

While butterflies may get more press than moths, Andrei Sourakov and Rachel Warren Chadd reveal that the lopsided attention is unjust. Moths evolved long before butterflies, and their importance cannot be overestimated. From the tiniest leaf miners to exotic hawk moths that are two hundred to three hundred times larger, these creatures are often crucial pollinators of flowers, including many that bloom at night or in twilight. The authors show that moths and their larvae are the main food source for thousands of animal species, and interact with other insect, plant, and vertebrate communities in ecosystems around the world, from tropical forests and alpine meadows to deserts and wetlands. The authors also explore such topics as evolution, life cycles, methods of communication, and links to humans.

A feast of remarkable facts and details, The Lives of Moths will appeal to insect lovers everywhere.

Review Quotes

"An excellent publication written for moth enthusiasts and amateur or professional entomologists. This book, as well as the entire series, does an excellent job of providing the reader with the most interesting and essential facts."---M. Rindos, European Journal of Entomology

"The illustrations are excellent, some of the best I have seen anywhere, of moths in all life stages, of habitats . . . . There is something of interest on almost every page."---Adrian Spalding, Entomologist's Gazette ​​​​

"An incredible guide to the often neglected world of moths . . . If this is the standard they have set then the rest of the books in this series are going to be an essential purchase just like this one."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association

"Extraordinary photographs allow the reader, like the photographer, to get up close and personal to a huge range of colourful moths . . . . By the time the reader turns to the last page, says the author, he hope that they will appreciate these species' role in their respective environments. There is no doubt about that at all."-- "Country Smallholding"

"I cannot express what a pleasure reading this book inspires in me, every page has a strikingly colourful or terrifying image as we get face-to-face with moths and their caterpillars."---Alan Wright, Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside

"Prepare to be amazed! This book is full of some incredible facts . . . . Anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge of our Lepidoptera would do well to take a look at what this book has to offer."---Peter Eeles, Dispar: The Online Journal of Lepidoptera ​​​​​​​

"The book covers just about everything you could imagine about moths and even more as the authors have been very thorough in incorporating a vast amount of information into a beautifully illustrated book."---Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature Newsletter

"The facts will amaze you and the images gather you into an awe-inspiring world that we seldom even think about. Princeton prides itself in excellence and its publishing arm lives up to the high bar."---Bo Beolens, Fat Birder

"This is a visually stunning book on moths. . . . Whether you're familiar with moths or a newcomer, it should get you excited about them."---Andrew Cormack, Gwent Wildlife Trust

About the Author

Andrei Sourakov is the collections coordinator for the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History. He has been studying moths for more than forty years. Rachel Warren Chadd is a writer and editor. Her books include Birds: Myth, Lore, and Legend. Together, they previously worked on The Book of Caterpillars as contributor and editor, respectively.