Best biology of butterflies books according to redditors
We found 55 Reddit comments discussing the best biology of butterflies books. We ranked the 16 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 55 Reddit comments discussing the best biology of butterflies books. We ranked the 16 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
A: "Hey guys, let's create a process where an administrative subdivision of the executive branch can remove a constitutional right from US citizens without judicial oversight."
B: "What are you, some kind of fascist? We don't take people's rights away in this country without due process and a trial with competent representation!"
A: "No, really guys, it's ok. We will only do it for the bad constitutionally protected rights."
B: "Bad rights? What the fuck you talking 'bout Willis?"
A: (Whispers) "You know, the Second Amendment."
B: "Oh, say no more! I'm totally OK with that. It isn't like it is a real right anyway."
What we see here is a nice solid formation of altocumulus clouds, similar but not to be confused with altostratus clouds. These are puffy water droplet clouds that occur at mid elevations from 6,500ft to 16,000ft, as denoted by the prefix "alto" meaning middle. These clouds are somewhat common and usually accompany larger weather systems and pockets of moisture across long journeys, often lasting for 100s of miles, and are seen year round regardless of season. Here we see altocumulus undulatus, or mackerel sky as other redditors have pointed out. This is a result of really consistent wind patterns across the sky, which leads to this nice patterning of clouds we see here. If they take up a large portion of the sky, that indicates that a fair amount of moisture is present, and if they occur simultaneously with other clouds, that may indicate a large system is inbound, and to possibly expect a significant change in weather.
They form as a result of varying pockets of pressure, primarily with horizontal wind currents. Vertical currents are not present or significant if these clouds are overhead. When pressure changes, it can cause water vapor in the atmosphere to condense on CCN (cloud condensation nuclei, pretty much just reealllyyy fine dust) and form clouds. Because these clouds form at mid elevations they are water droplet clouds, as opposed to colder ice crystal clouds, however if they become too cold they can freeze and turn into an ice based cloud.
If you're interested, I would suggest getting a book/guide similar to this. I have it and use it daily to identify clouds that are over me, how they form, and what they mean. I can now predict the weather fairly accurately just based on clouds a lone (only within the next 24 hrs, but still that's a cool skill to have). Clouds are very complex, but they can be really cool and incredibly foretelling and predicting. If you're outdoors a lot, it's really in invaluable skill to have.
This should concern you.
Not being a jerk here. I've got 20+ years experience with snakes, including working with them at multiple zoos and wildlife refuges, and I've seen some heck -- people getting bit due to misidentifying snakes and thinking they're cool or cute, or people who work with hots getting bit because they thought they knew the snake.
It's a disaster waiting to happen. Take some time. Pick up the green book, study it. Learn the snakes in your area and be able to identify them properly before every handling a snake. And remember that juveniles often have very different patterns and markings than adults.
If you're not 100% certain what kind of snake it is AND have a good reason to pick it up, just don't do it. For the snake's sake and your own.
/endrant
Get him one of the small rock id books with lots of pictures (like http://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Minerals/dp/0394502698/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368484350&sr=1-1&keywords=rock+guide). Even if he's barely reading, he can match pictures to the rocks and you can read it with him.
And yeah, don't throw away his rocks. If space in the house becomes an issue, help him create a rock garden in the yard and mark off an area for him.
My parents have cute pictures of me when I was really little walking holding up pants with pockets bulging and so full of rocks that they wouldn't stay up. If he wants to bring too many home, you can make a rule about only the top 3 or 5 or give him a specific box or bag and he can't bring home more than will fit in that item from each trip.
When you travel, look online for cool rock spots or neat geology opportunities where you're going to tie in his hobby with family events. It will make him feel special and feed his love.
Very cool of you to work to support your kid's inquisitive nature.
My favorite parts of the post;
"Always wear gloves – It’s surprisingly easy to absorb toxins through fingers" and " the data was drawn from The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms"
It's nothing crazy. Went for the Telluride Mushroom Festival in 2011. Had an amazing time, learned a lot, and met just about every big name in the field of mycology, including Paul Stamets, who is one of my science heroes. I also got to mushroom hunt with Gary Lincoff who literally wrote the book on mushroom identification.
Anyways, I have like 4 days of this amazing, fantastic time, meet all these amazing, fantastic people. The time comes to go home after vacation, and I knew that I wasn't going back to my shitty Wal-Mart job. Something had to change. So I called my boss, told him "I'm not going to be coming back" and enrolled in college. About to start my 4th year of school at the University of New Mexico, and yeah, it's been a bumpy ride, but I'm completely happy with the path I took. Sometimes I don't feel that way, but then I think on what life was before, and how much more I value it now, and I'm glad I did it.
Ever since, I've just had the itch to live in Colorado. It's beautiful, the people are super, duper friendly (I do a lot of hiking up in Durango and the surrounding mountains) and the beer is second to none. It's the kind of place I fantasized about living in for the last 10 years.
If you're interested in fostering a moth obsession, I recommend this book to help set the stage!
Yes. Yes. Yes. Always build a strong relationship with your professor and classmates. The most important thing you can do is to look at as many resources as possible beyond your assigned text to fully learn a new concept. If you just can't grasp a concept, make sure when you go to a professor or classmate for help approach them with the knowledge you have gained opposed to stating that you simply don't know anything.
As far as my experience I was better at lab work, but when it came to the straight theoretical and conceptual I always had trouble. There are always folks in the same boat as you and quite frankly their weaknesses might be your strengths.
I actually learned the very basic fundamentals using Audubon's field guide to rock and mineral identification beyond my assigned text. It covers the very basic to the complex compositions, structures, and formation. Link to Field Guide
My favorites are:
Roger Phillips Mushrooms and Other Fungi....
https://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Other-Fungi-North-America/dp/155407651X
David Arora Mushrooms Demystified
https://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Demystified-David-Arora/dp/0898151694
Audubon Society Field Guide:
https://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922
DK Mushroom Book:
https://m.barnesandnoble.com/p/mushrooms-dk/1127751094/2689838557184
This last one is a big beautiful hardcover book with a lot of different mushrooms from around the world and some excellent pictures:
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Fungi-Life-Size-Hundred-Species/dp/0226721175
Other than that it would depend on your region because I have some guides I love that focus on my region.
A list of pictures is not enough. You need a comprehensive resource that will also tell you which ones have no inedible lookalikes and how the inedible lookalikes differ if they do exist.
The closest thing to what you are looking for is probably this. And, even then, go out with an experienced mushroom hunter the first few hundred times.
The two you've listed are my personal favorites. I also make use of National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms, 100 Edible Mushrooms, North American Mushrooms: A Field guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi (not my favorite, but a useful cross reference at times), and Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America (this one has fantastic photos. While it is never recommended to ID by appearance alone, the cross cuts and underside photos in this book can be very useful). If you live in the southern east coast then I'd recommend Mushrooms of the Southeastern United States if you can find it affordably (as far as I know it is out of print and even used coppies are pretty expensive, but it is a fantastic book for southeastern mushrooms).
As far as websites I am a pretty frequent visitor of MushroomExpert.com. It offers some good keys and there are a lot of mushrooms listed.
Get a good mineral/rock ID book (I suggest buying this one ahead of time).
You will probably have really good mineral specimens in lab so you won't need a hand lens just yet, but you should buy one anyway (I suggest this one).
When the semester starts, spend a lot of time in lab alone looking at the minerals and memorizing a few key characteristics (name, formula, crystal habit, hardness, streak) of each one. Seriously, get used to being in there on the weekend, bring a beer (brown bag it). If you are good at identifying minerals in hand specimen, it will help out tremendously when you get into Petrology and out in the field. Don't rely on your instructor alone, look around for mineralogy websites from other universities. I found this series of lectures by Doug Haywick to be helpful.
The Peterson Field Guide to Insects: America North of Mexico should suit you just fine. Of course it covers a wide range and isn't specific to just your area but you should still be able to get to the family level with this book. The only downside of this book is that it was written a while ago and so some names and classifications have changed, but other information is valid and accurate. I personally have this and would recommend it. I am not aware of other field guides for insects that are specific to eastern/central North America except where specific orders or insect types are concerned, like the Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America, or perhaps something relating to specific geography like the Rockies or PNW or something.
Well, first we have to acknowledge that rocks are different than minerals. And both require different identification. For minerals, u/guaranic has given a good start. Other things to think about to add to u/guaranic are, crystal structure (what shape does it form naturally) and cleavage (how does it break, does it break straight along one plane, two?). The good news is often, though not always, these are observable and most times related. A mineral that does not break along a plane also has no cleavage which also may be a tell.
Now a mineral is composed of one type of element or compound. A rock is composed of minerals. With rocks, in order to learn identification you must first have an understanding of the three main types of rocks: Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Each produces a different rock with different things to look for.
Igneous: Igneous rocks are formed from cooling magma, literally liquid minerals. I've is a naturally forming mineral, water is its magma. When you see frost condense on a windshield on a cold day you can see points where the ice began to freeze and grow outward untill it touches another forming ice sheet. Those center points are where the crystal is seeded and how large that seed can grow will corespond with how cold it is. The colder it is the more seeds will start and more crystals with less room to grow means many small crystals. Slower cooling allows larger crystal formation with less crystals to get in the way. In igneous rocks, often crystal size is a good place to start. Are there large crystals? Than this rock most likely formed deeper in gound. Lots of tiny crystals? This probably cooled more rapidly as it approached the surface. Another thing to look at when beginning is the color of the rock over all. basltic lava is less viscous and very dark, often black. It forms oceanic crust . Andesitic lava is a mix between basaltic and rhyolitic, and produces brown and grey rocks like andesite! Rhyolitic magma is the most viscous and most common for us. It's magma doesn't flow like the stereotypical lava in movies. It forms lighter rocks, think granite. With crystal size and general mineral composition, you should be able to tell most types of igneous with some observation.
Sedimentary: sedimentary rocks are made up of broken down rock and minerals. Identification mostly comes down to partial size. However once you grab the basic size differences, the source of the material may also have a play in identification.
Metamorphic: Metamorphic rocks are igneous and sedimentary rocks that have been exposed to hi heat and pressure. This changes the organization of the crystals often times makeing foliation, a good indicator of metamorphic rock. Yet non foliated rocks do exist and are out there and may be hard to distinguish.
The best way to learn how to identify rocks and minerals is to honestly study, and practice. I like this book as a place to start. With good pictures, clear descriptions and fun facts, it was where I got my foot in the door. As well as the Audubon guid. But really once you read a little to get to know what your looking for you can start to figure it out. Although it may not always be as simple as looking at something and knowing what is. You may need to get samples and test things. Minerals may look similar. Some metamorphic rocks you might mistake for igneous. You just got to start by knowing where to look to get a good hunch and an educated guess.
https://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922
Sorry if my post sounded rude, it was not intentional, I shouldn't post late at night.
I have worked as an entomologist specialising in pollinators in the UK for nearly 10 years, and I have never heard of a bumblebee queen surviving more than one colony life cycle. This is very interesting. I've just had a look through some of my books (this one, this one, and this one) and they all state that bumblebee queens don't survive their colony, the latter book suggesting an average lifespan of about 6 months for Bombus terrestris. Perhaps the longer lifespans which you refer to is something specific to a small number of atypical species found outside of Europe? Somewhere sub-tropical perhaps, where the pressures relating to the onset of winter are not present. Do you know of any specific examples in the literature? I did a quick google search and everything that came up says the same thing: "annual lifecycle" and "old queen dies before winter". However, when I switched to the suggested search "how long do queen bumble bees live", the first result is: "All being well, a honey bee queen could live for 3 to 4 years, as long as she is free from disease. This is much longer than bumblebee queens or the solitary bee species." So perhaps you saw the 3-4 years bit (which was bolded) and understandably thought that it referred to the organism you were actually searching about?
I think perhaps your experience as a honeybee keeper has confused our conversation a bit. I suspect we are each more familiar a different type of bee! Although I am working on a honeybee project at the moment which is rectifying the gap in my knowledge :)
Not quite sure what you're asking, but the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals has a nice little section showcasing cut and rough gems side-by-side. The word "gem" covers a vast number of very diverse rocks and minerals, so I'm not sure there are too many generalizations to be made.
If you just want a reference for IDing rocks in the field. This is a pretty good book for that.
If you actually want to learn about how minerals form/chemistry and structure. This textbook is a good one, but I may be biased because Dexter was my mineralogy instructor.
Look into local chapters of the mycological society or mushroom hunting groups/clubs in your area. This site lists a few options. Looks like the one in Albion may be near-ish to you.
I've also found many of the links in the sidebar helpful, especially mushroom observer and the mushroom hunting and identification forum on The Shroomery. The Shroomery's ID forum is where I go to confirm my suspected ID's after keying out specimens on my own.
I use Mushrooms Demystified, by David Arora, as a my post collection ID book. It's both huge and dated (i think it's latest edition is from the early or mid 80's) so it's functionality as a field guide or the final word in ID is lacking. Even so, it is good to learn to work through dichotomous keys like the ones that it employs and it usually gets you headed in the right direction. Other guides like Rogers Mushrooms, All the Rain Promises and More, and The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms are good resources, too (I'm sure other folks can add to this list, I'm just dropping the names that first come to mind).
As much as I clash with some of his professional/ethical decisions, Paul Stamets has contributed a ton to the accessibility of Mycology to the masses. Check out Mycelium Running and Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms as introductions to the Fifth Kingdom.
I'm also really enjoying Tradd Cotter's new book, Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation
Fungi for the People and The Radical Mycology Collective have also been hugely influential in my personal growth as an amateur mycologist. If you ever get a chance to attend any of their events, I would recommend doing it.
Best of luck and enjoy your journey!
Mushrooms Demystified is a great reference but when i'm out in the woods I like something a little less brick-like. NAS Field Guide is my constant companion when I venture off into the trees.
This is the one I use. It’s pretty complete and not too expensive.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394519922/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kWQQBbB92MYGP
This is the most common used book for large moths in the UK Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (Field Guides) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472930304/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Dc1JAb1TNK1Q7
And for micro moths Field Guide to the Micro-Moths of Great Britain and Ireland https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0956490212/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Ed1JAbY92VYJ7
As for butterflies there is not quite the same golden standard but this should cover everything and help with identification
Britain's Butterflies: A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, Fully Revised and Updated Third Edition (WILDGuides) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0691166439/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lf1JAbX8FC3RC
Hope this helps a bit
I'd also suggest ditching the Audubon guide. Quite frankly, it's rubbish. Poorly organized, and a number of the photos are incorrectly ID'd. I highly recommend the Kauffman Guide to Insects by Eric Eaton for a broad overview of North American insect fauna.
Otherwise, if you're focusing on butterflies, the Peterson guides are quite useful. The eastern and western volumes by Opler are both useful, but lack quality keys.
The recently revised Peterson guide to Northeastern moths by Beadle & Leckie is impressive in its coverage (but by no means comprehensive) but similarly lacks any sort of useful key for identification.
If you're looking for other field guide recommendations, I'd be happy to share!
http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Kuo/e/B001ILI9G2/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603582142/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/The-Mushroom-Cultivator-Practical-Mushrooms/dp/0961079800/ref=pd_sim_b_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=0V56Q93CSRKQYV2W1C0B http://www.amazon.com/Mycelium-Running-Mushrooms-Help-World/dp/1580085792/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0V56Q93CSRKQYV2W1C0B http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0472030361/ref=oh_details_o04_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0472031260/ref=oh_details_o04_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0394519922/ref=oh_details_o04_s01_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580085792/ref=oh_details_o04_s01_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
These could be false morels, though I hope they aren't and you can eat a yummy meal. I would check them out on multiple sites and make a shroomery account. Also, if you plan to hunt often, Mushrooms Demystified and the Audubon Society's Mushroom Field Guide are both very necessary guides.
Buy an Audobon myco id book and look for deadly/noxious lookalikes in your area. Do a spore print if it's not too dry yet. Check the book for other info. Don't (don't) ask the internet if you should eat something. It's very dangerous!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394519922/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_udIDDbVAT1XYR
Peterson is pretty good.
The Dangerous World of Butterflies
I have a few geology guide books, but by far my favorite is my Audubon society field guide to rocks and minerals. It encompasses many different kinds of rocks and minerals, and has clear pictures of each one along with more information about various characteristics of each one, how they are formed, how to identify them, etc... The Audubon society always does a great job with their field guides, and for someone interested in geology I guarantee it will not disappoint.
Here is the link to the guide on amazon. I know the book is geared toward North America but I imagine it will still work in Europe. Enjoy!
I'm in Eastern PA, and went to PSU Upark. I prefer the Audubon society guides, they tend to have everything that's not rare that I encounter. It worked for me up in State College and is still great here in Berks county. https://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541772740&sr=8-1&keywords=audobon+guide+mushrooms Also it's not heavy and it's always in my backpack.
National Audubon Society Field Guide
Some of the best times spent with my dad were going into the woods and looking for snakes, turtles, and frogs. We would go to a lake and catch frogs or turtles or into the woods looking for snakes. Assuming you live in an area where there are no venomous snakes, look on rocks in sunny spots or under wood in fields. Think about where mice might go and that is where you will find snakes. Step on the tip of their tail and grab behind their heads so they can't bite you.
[Get this book]http://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-American-Reptiles-Amphibians/dp/0394508246/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341604390&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=field+guide+to+north+american+reptiles+and+anphibians and your own notebook. When you find a reptile or anphibian look it up in the book. Put down where and when you found it, how big it is, and maybe sketch a picture of it. Soon you will have a journal of all the animals you have found. Again Don't do this if you live in an area where dangerous snakes are an issue and always with your parents permission. I grew up in NY and dangerous snakes are very rare so I didn't have to worry about it.
I like this book:
http://www.amazon.com/North-American-Mushrooms-Inedible-Falconguide/dp/0762731095/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1409688221&sr=8-6&keywords=mushrooms+of+north+america
I don't like this book:
http://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409688242&sr=8-1&keywords=audubon+mushrooms
I did this on Friday:
http://www.reddit.com/r/mycology/comments/2f9lbx/prelabor_day_haul_10_variety_30_lbs/
For books:
-I find this field book to be the best newbie friendly to "what's that rock?"
Get your students to talk about geology they've seen in their life to connect it to what's being taught in lecture. I'm learning more about the natural history and geology of my home city of L.A. on the opposite coast than I did living there for half my life by talking in class.
I've used this one in the field
National Audubon American Mushrooms
I think the layered rock is sedimentary, the regular patterns indicate seasonal depositions. So it is sort of like tree rings. There are some good books on rocks, you will learn a lot more by reading a few.
http://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Minerals/dp/0394502698
In terms of field guides, I've found both Glassberg's "Butterflies through Binoculars" and Petersen's "Field Guide to Western Butterflies" to be amazingly helpful for identifying Leps on the go.
Technical books can be a bit trickier, however. I wholeheartedly agree with sandozguineapig's recommendation on Triplehorn's textbook. I'm currently using the 7th edition for many of my entomology courses and both the keys and family descriptions are excellent for all the insect orders. Another book my Lepidopterist friend actually uses in her work is Scoble's "The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity" and tells me it is also quite an excellent book.
I'll be sure to ask some folks around lab to see if they have any suggestions!
This book is your bible. It's what I used for my mycology course.
Discovering Moths: Nighttime Jewels in Your Own Backyard
Audubon Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
http://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-American-Reptiles-Amphibians/dp/0394508246
Audubon Guide to North American Insects and Spiders
http://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Insects/dp/0394507630
The Audubon Guides were beautiful color-photographic plates over several hundred pages that detailed almost all major species. I found them on my father's shelves when I was 5 or 6 and carried them around with me for about 6 years. It is, to this day, why I know most snakes by sight, immediately, and the same for insects and spiders.
I wish I still had them.
If you can get your hand on an Audubon's Guide, they're sort of the gold standard for identifying and harvesting in the PNW.
Here's a link to their mushroom guide
I have this one
And
[This one] (http://www.amazon.com/All-That-Rain-Promises-More/dp/0898153883/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418146439&sr=1-1&keywords=all+that+the+rain+promises)
And they are working pretty good to get me started.
This is a valuable book to own:
https://www.amazon.com/National-Audubon-Society-American-Mushrooms/dp/0394519922/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1D1IB9DI2107O&keywords=mushroom+identification+field+guide&qid=1559310910&s=gateway&sprefix=mushroom+ident%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1