Help in choosing british butterfly book please!

Nicola Main · #1 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 09:59 AM

Hello all I was wondering if any of you could help me. I am looking for a nice British butterfly book which has good illustrations and text. The maximum price I can pay is £15. I am new to identifying butterflies and would love a book that is easy to understand and not too technical.

Any thoughts would be welcome, Nicola.

rlchew · #2 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 10:12 AM

Nicola

I have this book by David Tomlinson .... Britain's Butterflies .... highly recommended.

Richard

rlchew · #3 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 10:17 AM

And this fold out guide from the Field Studies Council is also very good .... Guide to the Butterflies of Britain

Richard

Rodosranger · #4 (**permalink**) 29-04-2006, 10:30 AM

You won't go wrong with the Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland by British Wildlife Publishing and illustrated by Richard Lewington. Its only a tenner and has superb illustrations of every stage of the life cycle of all the species. For what you want I would say its perfect.

Regards
Matt

speckled wood · #5 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 05:41 PM

An excellent but out of print and old book is "The Pocket Book of British Butterflies" by Edmund Sanders. published by Oxford in the 1940s. Also has "keys" to help separate similar looking species. Can be found on ebay for £5 or less or from other internet sellers.

The Readers Digest Book is also worth considering, it also has some moths and insects as well .... price about £10

Dan Salter · #6 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 06:02 PM

I agree with richew and rodo

For starters (and only 2 or 3 pound) the FSC laminate fold out guides are a brilliant starting point ( and all i have still)...And also they are child friendly...large clear pictures and the names...simple stuff and most of all light as a piece of card. if its simpicity you were after then this is the best bet...available in most nature shops/ or at your local wildlife trust headquarters etc.

and when you get a bit more interested and wanting more info the Richard Lewington pocket guide is probably a good progression ( His moth books are regarded as the bible on moths i believe?)

Also though for 4.99 i think? the Collins GEM book of butterlfies ( tiny) is actually pretty dam good and easy to use with big clear photos and very small and easy to carry.

But overall with good pics and text go with the Richard lewington

Alan · #7 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 06:09 PM

I have the one Richard recommends: Britain's Butterflies by Tomlinson. You have a picture of the Species of butterfly (male and female), the caterpillar and the foodplant on the same page. A superb book for the money! I also have the Dragonfy one in the same series.

Dan Salter · #8 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 06:14 PM

Hmmm thats sounds ideal alan?...I may check this one our for myself !!... as so many of the other books fail to include the relevant caterpillar and plant info....I feel a trip to the bookshop coming on !

Alan · #9 (**permalink**) 27-08-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Hmmm thats sounds ideal alan?...I may check this one our for myself !!... as so many of the other books fail to include the relevant caterpillar and plant info....I feel a trip to the bookshop coming on !

If you can afford it. I'd get the Tomlinson and the Lewington one. These should cover most of your needs!