The Butterflies of Zambia

Authors: A. Heath, M.A. Newport and D. Hancock

Publishers: African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI) & The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa

Publication date: 2002

A comprehensive work on Zambia's butterflies has been long awaited. Publishers ABRI and Lepsoc. are to be congratulated for finally committing the tireless fieldwork and research efforts of authors Alan Heath, Michael Newport and David Hancock. to print.

The value of this work is considerable. The book provides a checklist of 839 species, almost all of which are illustrated within some 2 300 separate photographs on CD-ROM, enriching the pool of information available to collectors (both amateur and professional), scientific and natural history institutions, conservationists, entomologists and others with scientific interest.

The authors state outright that this is not a book for the beginner as it focuses purely on species information and covers none of the other topics that might interest the layman. Despite this, however, it is likely to be of some value to the growing band of ordinary people whose passion for nature and wildlife now also encompasses butterflies, as a means of identifying specimens, albeit only by their scientific names.

The species information is well presented and with brevity. In this age of information overload many readers will find brevity to be an asset, particularly as sufficient critical information - species description, distribution, habitat preference, status (scarcity or otherwise), locality records, flight periods, food plant details and unusual habits or occurrences - is given almost without exception.

Use of CD-ROM for illustrations is novel and in keeping with the electronic age. It works well and the quality of the photographs (all set specimens) is excellent. Wherever possible, each species is illustrated four-fold with uppersides and undersides of both male and female. For a variety of reasons, there are also advantages to being able to print out good quality colour hard copies of specimens as desired. The only possible shortcoming is that some purchasers may not have the appropriate computer equipment to view the CD-ROM, but in this day and age they are surely in the minority.

The Introduction is comprehensive, offering the rationale behind the book, the classification methodology and very readable and informative sections relating to topography, climate, vegetation/biomes, conservation and the history of collecting in Zambia.

In a user-friendly manner, "The Butterflies of Zambia" fills a void in the African Lepidoptera knowledge base and is a must for anyone seriously interested in African butterflies. The book also makes significant progress in the use of technology, which has kept the purchase price down. Perhaps the day is not long off when specialist books like this one will go electronic all the way...

Reviewed by Dave McDermott.