Butterflies of British Columbia: Including Western Alberta, Southern Yukon, the Alaska Panhandle, Washington, Northern Oregon, Northern Idaho, and Northwestern Montana

Butterflies are found everywhere in British Columbia, from balcony planter boxes in the city to the vast unexplored expanses of boreal forest and mountains in the north. The total known fauna of 187 species of butterflies in B.C. is by far the largest and most diverse in Canada. Butterflies of British Columbia summarizes all available information on the butterflies of B.C. It includes an extensive general introduction to the study of butterflies, containing chapters on the history of butterfly study in B.C., the post-glacial colonization of B.C. by butterflies, the effects of European colonization on the fauna, butterfly conservation, butterfly gardening, ecology, morphology, biology, and behaviour.The 187 species and 264 subspecies of butterflies known from B.C., as well as 9 additional hypothetical species, are discussed with descriptions of identifying features, immature stages, larval foodplants, biology and life history, range and habitat, and conservation status. Original descriptions are provided for 11 new subspecies. Each species treatment includes maps of the northwestern North American distribution, colour photographs of adults of all species and subspecies, and flight season graphs. The meanings of both the scientific and common names are given for all butterfly species in B.C. Distribution maps are provided for additional species and subspecies that occur in areas adjacent to B.C., including Washington, northern Idaho, northwest Montana, western Alberta, and southern Yukon. Butterflies of British Columbia provides butterfly watchers, naturalists, and the professional biologist with an overview of the fascinating butterfly fauna of British Columbia and adjacent areas. It can be used by naturalists to identify all the butterfly species and subspecies in B.C. and adjacent areas and includes a wide range of information about both butterflies in general and individual species. There is also a large amount of original information in the book for use by scientists, including the description of 11 new subspecies and a complete reassessment of the taxonomy of the species.