An extraordinary look at the wild butterflies of North America, with hundreds of compelling original photographs
See what it's like to stare a butterfly in the eyes. Lavishly illustrated and scientifically rigorous, this dazzling volume provides a comprehensive visual guide to the butterflies of North America. David Lee Myers's stunning photography captures these amazing insects in their natural habitats, offering a firsthand look at how butterflies appear in the wild. Featuring more than a hundred species of butterflies, Wings in the Light highlights the importance of studying these insects as indicator species and discusses not only the taxonomy and biology of butterflies, but the importance of conserving butterfly habitats.
A valuable resource for both professional lepidopterists and amateur naturalists, this engaging window into the world of North American butterflies serves not only to teach us what we can learn about these beautiful and inspiring creatures, but also the incredible things that we can learn from them.
David Lee Myers is a prize-winning natural history and landscape photographer who has taught photography at various colleges. He has collected data and led butterfly counts for the North American Butterfly Association and the National Park Service. He lives in Ashland, Oregon.
"This is an unusual book. [...] I confess that my first flip through the pages disclosed a number of frankly scruffy and unsatisfying photographs. Expectations were low. But I had missed the point. There is indeed a significant percentage of pictures taken of butterflies in poor condition – in some cases completely battered. But they do serve a purpose [...] So, does this unusual book work? Despite my initial misgivings, the answer must be yes it does. Text and illustrations meld together to deliver a unique understanding of butterflies, their habitats, their day-to-day life, conservation issues, and the pure joy of being out in the countryside on a sunny day. These are reasons enough to welcome this book to the shelf, although I suspect it will be of more value to young or inexperienced observers than to seasoned field workers."
– John Tennent, Atropos 64, September 2019
"It would be wrong to suggest that this is just a magnificent picture book. The text, built from personal experience and solid research, is at once familiar, unassuming, confiding, witty, and humble, yet reassuringly authoritative – a difficult balance to achieve, but one that comes naturally to David Myers."
– from the Foreword by Robert Michael Pyle
"An intimate and personal biophilic journey told in words and images. Wings in the Light catalogs the singular passion of David Lee Myers for the enchanted winged insects we know as butterflies. More than a field guide, he shows the objects of his passion in the raw – not always pristine and lined up like soldiers in a battalion, but in their habitats and sometimes worn and tattered from life in a messy and multifarious world."
– James Prosek, author of Eels and Ocean Fishes
"Field guides rarely use photos of faded or tattered butterflies. This book bridges the gap between reference book and art book, and will appeal to both experienced lepidopterists and everyday butterfly enthusiasts with its unique photos and narrative."
– Caitlin C. LaBar, co-author of Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest
"A visually impressive and rich introduction to the wealth of North American butterflies."
– David G. James, Washington State University, co-author of Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies