The Last Monarch Butterfly: Conserving the Monarch Butterfly in a Brave New World

In my Review of the excellent The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation I suggested that a general introduction would have made the book more useful to the general reader. This beautiful little book would serve the purpose very well. It contains 30 colorful pictures documenting each stage of the insect's life. The text is clear and easy to read without speaking down to the reader. The book is divided into five main section. The first section details the life cycle, from eggs, to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult. The second deals with overwintering roosts or colonies in the states of Michoacan and California. It describes the five known over-wintering sites, and the weaknesses in the Mexican government's protection. The third describes the migration of the Monarchs to the north and northeast, well over 2,000 miles. The adult Monarchs drink nectar of many flowering plants - but the eggs must be laid on a milkweed plant. The caterpillars eat the milkweed, and the milk serves many purposes in the growth of the caterpillar into a Monarch. The fourth describes threats to habitat, and predators, parasites and pathogens, herbicides and pesticides. The fifth discusses describes the return journey. Schappert ends with a page on what the reader can do to help the Monarchs: become involved with local and national clubs, contribute to political action groups, plant milkweeds and favorite nectar plants in your garden. This book is a useful supplement to The Monarch Butterfly: Biology and Conservation and to the splendid websites devoted to the insect. Google "monarch watch" , "monarch lab" , and "journey north" Robert C. Ross 2008