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The Lives of Moths: A Natural History of Our Planet's Moth Life
A richly illustrated look at the natural history of moths
Moths are among the most underappreciated insects on the planet, yet they make up the majority of some 180,000 known species of Lepidoptera. Filled with striking images, The Lives of Moths looks at the remarkable world of these amazing and beautiful creatures.
While butterflies may get more press than moths, Andrei Sourakov and Rachel Warren Chadd reveal that the lopsided attention is unjust. Moths evolved long before butterflies, and their importance cannot be overestimated. From the tiniest leaf miners to exotic hawk moths that are two hundred to three hundred times larger, these creatures are often crucial pollinators of flowers, including many that bloom at night or in twilight. The authors show that moths and their larvae are the main food source for thousands of animal species, and interact with other insect, plant, and vertebrate communities in ecosystems around the world, from tropical forests and alpine meadows to deserts and wetlands. The authors also explore such topics as evolution, life cycles, methods of communication, and links to humans.
A feast of remarkable facts and details, The Lives of Moths will appeal to insect lovers everywhere.
Moths are among the most underappreciated insects on the planet, yet they make up the majority of some 180,000 known species of Lepidoptera. Filled with striking images, The Lives of Moths looks at the remarkable world of these amazing and beautiful creatures.
While butterflies may get more press than moths, Andrei Sourakov and Rachel Warren Chadd reveal that the lopsided attention is unjust. Moths evolved long before butterflies, and their importance cannot be overestimated. From the tiniest leaf miners to exotic hawk moths that are two hundred to three hundred times larger, these creatures are often crucial pollinators of flowers, including many that bloom at night or in twilight. The authors show that moths and their larvae are the main food source for thousands of animal species, and interact with other insect, plant, and vertebrate communities in ecosystems around the world, from tropical forests and alpine meadows to deserts and wetlands. The authors also explore such topics as evolution, life cycles, methods of communication, and links to humans.
A feast of remarkable facts and details, The Lives of Moths will appeal to insect lovers everywhere.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2022
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102 people want to read
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September 30, 2025
The photos of the moths and caterpillars are simply stunning. They are well curated by the two expert authors, who write with enthusiasm. The overview chapters are highly informative and well organized, providing the reader with a basic but solid understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and evolutionary biology of moths. Their raison d’être and modus operandi are well explained. Subsequent chapters expand on these topics by describing individual ecosystems and selected examples of moths that inhabit them. The key emphasis is that moths, like all living things, are inseparable parts of their ecosystems. This format can become repetitive at times. However, the final two chapters — “Moths on Coniferous and Wetland Plants” and “Moths in Agroecosystems and Around Homes” — are particularly engaging.
Displaying 1 of 1 review