Social Butterflies

Henry Horn's book "Social Butterflies" explores the social lives of butterflies by studying five sympatric species, challenging the notion that they are simply preconditioned to react to stimuli and shedding light on territoriality, mating tactics, vagrancy, feeding strategies, and more. It is essential reading for lepidopterists, ecologists, and anyone interested in the social behaviors of invertebrate species.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Throughout his illustrious career, Henry Horn approached the study of butterflies with a distinct perspective. This remarkable book amalgamates his findings with the latest advancements in behavioral ecology, offering an unparalleled exploration into the intricate social lives of butterflies. For the first time, it sheds light on the astonishingly diverse range of butterfly behaviors across multiple species, unveiling the marvels that exist within this captivating realm.

Social Butterflies delves into comprehensive investigations of five sympatric species: the Plain Ringlet, the Eyed Brown, the Great Spangled Fritillary, the Viceroy, and the Pearly Eye. These studies showcase the remarkable extent to which these social butterflies engage in a wide array of behaviors, comparable to those observed in vertebrate animals. Drawing upon his extensive field observations spanning decades, Horn meticulously describes the natural history and behavioral quirks of each species, formulating models to elucidate distinctive aspects of their behaviors. He then highlights significant deviations from these models, challenging the notion that butterflies are solely predisposed to react to stimuli. Instead, he demonstrates how certain butterflies make decisions by observing the interactions between other butterflies and their environment. Throughout this enlightening journey, Horn sheds light on various aspects of butterfly behavior, including territoriality, mating strategies, vagrancy, feeding habits, and more.

By charting new avenues for future research, Social Butterflies poses thought-provoking questions about the intricate and sometimes enigmatic social behaviors exhibited by these remarkable creatures. It serves as a vital resource for lepidopterists, ecologists, and anyone with an interest in the social behaviors of invertebrate species.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691206295