Staff pick: Butterflies of Indiana by Jeffrey E. Belth

Reviewed by Laura Baich, electronic marketing manager

Every spring I anxiously wait to see if my daughter will outgrow her fear of flying insects. Will 2013 be the year? I certainly hope so because this spring I really want to enjoy the warm days outside instead of (futilely) attempting to convince a shrieking child that a butterfly is silent, so no, it can’t possibly “buzz” in your ear!

Even though she’s still not sold on the fact that butterflies can’t buzz, the one thing we both agree on is that butterflies are beautiful. As long as they don’t move, she enjoys looking at the butterflies that flock to the lavender in our backyard (unfortunately, the bees like the lavender too, and they really do buzz, which cuts short the butterfly observation time). Her favorite question to ask is, “What kind of butterfly is that?” If it’s not a monarch, then I’m stuck. Luckily, I have Jeffery E. Belth to help me out this year. His new field guide, Butterflies of Indiana, covers all 149 species of butterflies and their close relatives, the skippers (which, as NUVO points out, is “not a friend of Barbie”).

The guide includes more than 500 color photos and a handy key for telling the difference between a butterfly, skipper, or moth (another creature feared by my daughter, so we won’t go looking for those). In addition to providing a detailed identification guide for each butterfly and skipper, the book also includes useful information on where to look for butterflies, the best times of day to see them, and how to look for them (silently, without sudden movements, which will be hard for a 5-year-old). There are also good sections on the life cycle of a butterfly and butterfly behavior, and the best way to photograph butterflies. As a butterfly novice, I found the information in the book very easy to interpret, but it’s also very thorough, which more experienced lepidopterophiles will appreciate.

Everything you ever wanted to know about butterflies (and more!) is included in this compact guide. Get your copy today before the butterflies start “buzzing” around!