An Obsession With Butterflies: Our Long Love Affair With A Singular Insect

257 Pages·2003·1.72 MB·English

by  Sharman Apt Russell

(cid:2)n (cid:3)bsessionwith (cid:4)utterflies

Our Long Love Affair with a Singular Insect

SHARMAN APT RUSSELL
Sharman Apt Russell teaches writing at
Western New Mexico University and at
Antioch University in Los Angeles,
California.
Praise for
An Obsession with Butterflies
“This enchanting little book is an extraordinary mating of
exciting, sure-footed science and inspired prose poetry. It
abounds with perfect little declarations and revelations. If
you have never given butterflies much thought, this will
enrich your perceptions of the world around you. If you al-
ready are an addict, this book will mightily confirm your
affliction.”
–Baltimore Sun
“Russell has done a wonderful job of gathering up bits of
lore to brighten up her account...all of which makes for fas-
cinating reading.”
–The Economist
“An exquisitely buoyant ode to butterflies...captivating
blend of science, history and wonder...Fascinating.”
–Boston Herald
“Russell merges wit, knowledge and poetic language in this
engaging scientific rumination.... A well researched and
beautifully written natural history of these colorful insects.”
–Publishers Weekly
“Russell speaks clearly and enticingly.... Highly enjoyable: a
modest lepidopterous encyclopedia that piques and prods the
reader into wanting to know much more.”
–Kirkus Reviews
“Readable, informative, and at times poetic.”
–Boston Globe
“One of the most elegant, beautifully written nature books
I’ve ever read.... At last, butterflies have a work that is
worthy of their beauty and grace.”
–Curled Up with a Good Book
“Unwraps the exquisiteness of the butterfly, revealing a
winged creature worthy of the enchantment that inspired
Apt Russell’s book.”
–Portland Oregonian
“Lore and natural history come together here for a fine
read.”
–Dallas Morning News
“Russell’s writing is extraordinary.”
–Buffalo News
An
O b s e s s i o n
with
B u t t e r f l i e s
(cid:1)
Our Long Love Affair with
a Singular Insect
s h a r m a n a p t r u s s e l l
A Member of the Perseus Books Group
New York
To the butterfly girls:
Faye, Lorrie, Maria, Rachel, and Brisly Alejandra
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish
their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear
in this book, and where Perseus Publishing was aware of a trademark claim,
the designations have been printed in initial capital letters.
Copyright © 2003by Sharman Apt Russell
Illustrations copyright © 2003 by Jennifer Clark
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2003102851
ISBN 0–7382–0699–7 (hc); ISBN 0-465-07160-0 (pbk.)
Basic Books is a Member of the Perseus Books Group.
Find us on the World Wide Web at http://www.basicbooks.com.
Perseus Publishing books are available at special discounts for bulk
purchases in the U.S. by corporations, institutions, and other organizations.
For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at
the Perseus Books Group, 11Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142,
or call (800) 255–1514or (617) 252–5298, or e-mail
[email protected].
Text design by Brent Wilcox
Set in 10.5-point Fairfield Light by the Perseus Books Group
First hardcover printing, May 2003
First paperback printing, April 2004
12345678910—060504
other books by
Sharman Apt Russell
Anatomy of a Rose
Songs of the Fluteplayer
Kill the Cowboy
When the Land Was Young
The beauty and brilliance of the insect are indescrib-
able and none but a naturalist can understand the in-
tense excitement I experienced.... On taking it out of
its net and opening the glorious wings my heart began
to beat violently, the blood rushed to my head, and I felt
more like fainting than I have done when in apprehen-
sion of immediate death. I had a headache the rest of
the day.
alfred russel wallace
The Malay Archipelago
contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
A Note on Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
one
Obsession with Butterflies . . . . . . . . . .1
two
Tough Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
three
You Need a Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
four
Metamorphosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
five
Butterfly Brains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
six
Butterfly Matisse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
~ vii ~
CONTENTS
seven
Love Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
eight
The Single Mom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
nine
On the Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
ten
In the Land of Butterflies . . . . . . . . .119
eleven
The Natural History Museum . . . . . 137
twelve
Not a Butterfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157
thirteen
Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
fourteen
The Business of Butterflies . . . . . . .181
fifteen
Air and Angels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
Selected Bibliography and Notes . . . .209
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229
~ viii ~
acknowledgments
During the course of writing this book, my daughter, Maria
Hallie Apt Russell, was a wonderful research assistant and
companion to such places as England and Costa Rica. My
husband, Peter Russell, was there from the beginning to
the end, envisioning, re-envisioning, and catching butter-
flies. My editor at Perseus Books, Amanda Cook, is always
supportive, insightful, and on target.
Any mistakes in the following chapters are my own. At the
same time, I must thank the many scientists whose research
I used and who did me the favor of reading over the text.
Bert Orr from Griffith University in Queensland, Aus-
tralia, was a tremendous help. A good writer and editor, as
well as an expert in his field, Bert has the gift of offering
critical suggestions in the context of generous enthusiasm.
Some of his work with butterflies is highlighted in the
chapter “Love Stories.” His comments and observations
strengthened many other parts of this book.
~ ix ~