The Meadow Brown Butterflies A Study in Genetics, Morphology and Evolution

About this book

The Meadow Brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) has been the subject for research since the middle of last century. Aspects of its genetics, morphology and ecology have fascinated scientists and naturalists alike. It has been drawn and painted by artists since the Middle Ages. Its relatives in the tribe Maniolini (the genera Maniola, Pyronia, Aphantopus, Hyponephele and Cercyonis) have not been given as much attention and differences between these insects are not well understood.

The main part of this book is a PhD thesis, written in 1987, the outcome of a six-year study of, and lifelong interest in, the butterflies of the tribe Maniolini from genetic and morphological perspectives, leading to some suggestions on the relationships between the genera and species. Although we live in a different world now, especially in the light of more recent DNA techniques, the thesis still attracts a great deal of attention and forms a useful basis for further study.

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