The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea : Their Systematics and Biology

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Summary: The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea - Michael Parsons (1999)
Review: The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea - Their Systematics and Biology - Dr Michael Parsons (736 pages, 26 B/W plates, 136 colour photos)

This is a marvellous book and is long overdue. The butterflies of PNG include some of the largest and most magical butterflies in the world and Dr Parsons has researched his subject thoroughly for more than 15 years, and was a senior entomologist in the Wildlife Division in Papua New Guinea from 1979 - 1984.

The book is divided into two parts plus an extensive bibliography, a glossary, index, line drawings, (selected) genitalia, 11 appendices, 57 text figures, 8 tables and 136 colour photographs, including 32 of early stages (the photograph of a fully grown Queen Alexandra's Birdwing caterpillar on a man's hand is awesome).

Part 1 has 11 very comprehensive chapters: Scope & Format; New Guinea Past & Present; World Faunal Regions & Butterfly Diversity; Origins & Composition of the New Guinea Butterfly Fauna; A History of Butterfly Collecting in New Guinea; Butterfly Conservation & Commerce in PNG; Aspects of Butterfly Ecology in PNG; Mimicry in New Guinea Butterflies; Collection & Study; Adult Structure; Classification & Nomenclature.

Part 2 lists and describes over 820 species by family and there is a checklist of 959 species so far discovered on the island of New Guinea and its satalite archipelagos. Not only are descriptions of all stages given, but also a history of each species from when it was first described to the present. Known ranges, foodplants of larvae and habits are also given. Some species, notably the birdwings, have distribution maps. This section brings the serious entomologist bang up to date with the subject and also provides the enthusiastic novice with a book that will lead him or her through the wonderful PNG butterflies without losing the reader in a sea of technical jargon.

The colour plates illustrate nearly 3000 specimens, depicting all the major forms and morphs of PNG's butterflies, many natural size. The 32 plates of early stages show nearly 400 photographs of eggs, larvae and pupae, as well as some adults photographed in the field and clearly demostrate the diversity of forms these take.

I can thoroughly recommend this book, and although the price is high, it is the result of many years study by an acknowledged expert and will be the standard text on PNG butterflies for years to come.