new moth books

[Ron Gatrelle]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stanley A. Gorodenski" <stan_gorodenski at asualumni.org>
To: <leps-l at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: new moth books


> Ron, I agree with what you are saying, but on the other hand sometimes
> there is so much variation in a species that maybe it might be difficult
> to get a real specimen that will illustrate the particular wing markings
> well enough to make the species identification easy. Maybe a painting,
> _if_ the painter is also knowledgeable about the species they are
> painting, might be able to give a clearer "key", so to speak. This is
> not disputing what you are saying, just another thought.
> Stan

Dittos on the variation.  This is what is so good about the Moths of North
America North of Mexico (MONA), they present several variations on each
taxon.   The Brock / Kaufman book does the same thing with their photos,
they provide variation pictures.  (This is the best basic Guide on the
marker.) The only real place where I can see a painting being of more
benefit is with things like Morphos where a photo can not provide the
different "looks" from different reflections.

I also love the Howe paintings and have one book of his that is more art
than science.  Its great because it accomplished what the book is about -
butterfly beauty.

Ron Gatrelle



 
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