
The Disappearance of Butterflies
Josef H. Reichholf(Author)
Polity Press
1st Edition
Published on 22. October 2020
Book
Hardback
260 pages
978-1-5095-3979-6 (ISBN)
Description
In the last fifty years our butterfly populations have declined by more than eighty per cent and butterflies are now facing the very real prospect of extinction. It is hard to remember the time when fields and meadows were full of these beautiful, delicate creatures - today we rarely catch a glimpse of the Wild Cherry Sphinx moths, Duke of Burgundy or the even once common Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. The High Brown Fritillary butterfly and the Stout Dart Moth have virtually disappeared.
The eminent entomologist and award-winning author Josef H. Reichholf began studying butterflies in the late 1950s. He brings a lifetime of scientific experience and expertise to bear on one of the great environmental catastrophes of our time. He takes us on a journey into the wonderful world of butterflies - from the small nymphs that emerge from lakes in air bubbles to the trusting purple emperors drunk on toad poison - and immerses us in a world that we are in danger of losing forever. Step by step he explains the science behind this impending ecological disaster, and shows how it is linked to pesticides, over-fertilization and the intensive farming practices of the agribusiness.
His book is a passionate plea for biodiversity and the protection of butterflies.
Reviews / Votes
"This is a brilliant, authoritative and iconoclastic challenge to the industrial farming that is destroying insect life. But Josef Reichholf's lifetime of scrupulous scientific observation of butterflies and moths does not lead to despondency. He identifies overlooked solutions, from discarding fertiliser to embracing disorder and greening cities. And he reveals more of the miraculous biology of butterflies and moths, and their marvellous relationships with a whole web of life including us."Patrick Barkham, author of The Butterly Isles
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
598 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5095-3979-6 (9781509539796)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Josef H. Reichholf
The Disappearance of Butterflies
E-Book
10/2020
1st Edition
Wiley
€13.99
Available for download
Persons
Josef Reichholf is an environmental biologist and author who has twice received the German Science Book of the Year prize.