Author(s): Brian Parkinson

Environment

Do you know how to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth? This book contains diagrams and text that will help you identify one from the other, as well as being an identification guide to the moths and butterflies you might encounter on bush walks, in your backyard and so on. In New Zealand we have fewer than 30 named butterflies, some of which are very occasional trans-Tasman visitors. On the other hand, we have about 2000 moths, and this number is constantly being revised upwards. This book endeavours to show some of the variety of our large and diverse butterfly and moth fauna, along with a number of the gems that often go unnoticed. Much new and previously unpublished information about the food plants and distribution of these moths is included here. Moths from 22 families are depicted, a number of which have never been illustrated before. Brian Parkinson has written several books that explore New Zealand?s unique flora and fauna, including the recently released Ferns and Fern Allies and Seashells in the Reed Nature Series collection. Brian Patrick of the Otago Museum is renowned for his knowledge and photographic excellence in this area.