Review: 'Britain's Day-Flying Moths' by David Newland, Robert Still, and Andy Swash

Britain's Day-Flying Moths: A Field Guide to the Day-Flying Moths of Britain and Ireland by David Newland, Robert Still, and Andy Swash, 2013, Princeton University Press, $19.62, softbound, 224 pages. Category/Genre: reference. Cover: beautiful. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.  


This book goes over lots of interesting information about moths, such as the difference between butterflies and moths, what a day-flying moth is, moth biology, the naming of moths, and where to look for day-flying moths. There's also a nice section on gardening for moths: what food plants are good to have in your garden in order to attract specific species, and tips such as the fact that ' "old-fashioned" varieties of plants are often better for moths than modern cultivars because their nectar is more easily extracted.' 

Then come the species accounts, in which you will find a detailed description of families and species, whether or not the species in question is scarce or widespread, where it is found, when it flies, forewing length, larval food plants, and similar species. Close-up colour photographs accompany each species account. 

There's also information on conservation and legislation.

If you like this one, try: Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern America, by David Beadle and Seabrooke Leckie.