, 52 JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTERISTS' SOCIETY larval plates alone would have been an important variation of larval color and pattern (rampant for scientific contribution and worthy of purchase. They example in Euproserpinus), perhaps utilizing the blank are a great accomplishment and a fitting centerpiece of reverse side of Plate 23. These minor comments, and this book. Many of these larvae are depicted for the Jim has my name wrong in the acknowledgements(!), first time; some were completely unknown previously. cannot eclipse the fact that for all biologists interested Appended are parasitoid associations (with citations), in sphingids, whether occurring in North America or lists of collections referenced, an entomological/animal not, this book will be indispensable. In quality, it stands index, and a botanical index. unsurpassed among the many faunal treatments that Whereas Hodges depicted extensive adult variation line my bookshelves. with exemplar series, Jim shows only some. For documentation of the larvae, I would like to have seen KENDALL H. OSBORNE., Osborne Biological color depictions of dorsal views for some larvae shown Consulting, 6675 Avenue Juan Diaz, Riverside, CA, only in lateral view. Though an added expense, the 92509; email: [email protected]. work would also have benefited by additional color images exemplifying geographic and within-population Received for publication 14 December; revised and accepted 20 December 2009 Joumal ofthe Lepidopterists' SOciety 64(1),2010,52-53 BIOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY Early in the introduction, Robinson proposes the OF TINEID MOTHS, by Gaden S. Robinson. 143 whimsical query "Why Tineidae-why pick on me". To pages, 16 color plates With' 512 figures, 210 x 295 mm, this he responds, with typical Robinsonian humor hardbound. ISBN 978-983-40053-9-9. Southdene Sdn "Because you're cute little moths. I think it's the hair Bhd, P.O. Boxl0l39, 50704 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysi; that does it - Jimi Hendrix taken to extremes, but well­ email: [email protected]. © Natural History kempt, admittedly. And facial hair to match." FollOwing Museum, London, 2009. £40 (- $64). this popular approach, the text becomes strictly This global review of the family Tineidae business, first prOViding a family diagnosis (How conveniently summarizes much that the author and Tineidae are defined), followed by a detailed discussion others have learned about the clothes moths and their of the 16 currently recognized subfamilies relatives, a biologically interesting group on which (Classification within Tineidae). Under the latter Gaden Robinson (1949-2009) had devoted much of his section Robinson summarizes not only their profeSSional life. It is likely that the author realized morpholOgical characteristics, but also major biological while completing this volume that it would be his final attributes within each subfamily, and the number of major work. Sadly he was not able to view its genera and species currently recognized within each publication, which appeared just a few weeks after his subgroup tallied by biogeographical region. death, following a nearly two year decline of his health, Unfortunately, no morphological illustrations nor An obituary and brief biography of the author is taxonomic keys have been included, which otherwise included as a preface to the text. would have assisted in recognizing subfamilies. POSSibly BaSically this volume brings together, within a these would have been provided had the author been geographical framework, much of the essential proVided more time to devote to this review. A major information about Tineidae that has appeared in feature of this work are the 500 color figures of adults Robinson's web-based world catalogue of the Tineidae and 12 of larval cases, primarily sampled from the [Global Taxonomic Database of Tineidae collections of the Natural History Museum, London (Lepidoptera); http://\V\,"w.nhm,ac.uklentomology (BMNH). Although many of the images appear poorly Itineidae/index.html], Robinson, et ai., Lepidoptera defined against a rather dark background, they do host plant database [Hosts - a Database of the World's proVide a ready means to identify many of the more Lepidopteran Hostplants; http://www.nhm.ac.ukl distinctive species. Several species are represented by research-curationiresearchiprojects/hostplants/], and holotypes and many have never been illustrated before. his excellent review with E. S. Nielsen on the Tineid A number of specimens are unspread or damaged, Genera of Australia (Robinson & Nielsen 1993). reflecting the need for much more collecting in this • VOLUME 64, .'\J"UMBER 1 53 poorly surveyed family. The author was able to subfamilies, as defined in the introduction. The illustrate representative species for 272 of the 341 advantage of this approaeh, of course, being that one known tineid genera. Robinson reports that of these can find all diagnostic information induded for eaeh 341 genera, 106, or 31%, are currently unassigned to region. Unfortunately, it also requires repeating basic any subfamily. It should be pointed out that the names information about widespread taxa sometimes for of two color figures, Dryadaula terpsichorella and several regions. Opogona harpalea, have been mistakenly switched on This book \vill proVide an excellent introduction to the back cover (but not in the text). This minor error future studies on the Tineidae for any major region of undoubtedly occurred after the author had any the world. Together vvith his very usable world opportunity to correct it. catalogue for the family, and the review of the The following section-2. Distribntion, biology, and Australian genera \\ith E. Nielsen (1993), Robinson has diversity-constitutes nearly 70% of the volume, greatly enabled future work on this family. It is wherein the biology and diversity of most ofthe world's significant to mention that for these latter contributions genera and representative species are summarized and others, Gaden Robinson received the prestigious according to geographical regions, beginning with Jordan Award from the Lepidopterists' Society in 2007. major island groups of the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic Oceans, and the subantarctic islands of the southern DONALD R. DAVIS, Department of Entonwlogy, ocean. Next the standard biogeograpical regions are National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian treated, starting with the ~earctic and progressing Institution, PO Box 37012, Washington, D.C., 20013­ through the ~eotropical, Pale arctic, Afrotropical, 7012, USA; email: [email protected]. Oriental, and Australian Regions. Within each regional Received for publication 1 February 2010; revised and ac­ treatment, taxa are summarized according to cepted.5 FebruanJ 2010 Journal ofthe Lepidopterists' Socwty 64(1),2010.53-54 A PHOTOGRAPHIC FIELD GUIDE TO THE adjacent areas. The species accounts are arranged by BUTTERFLIES OF THE KANSAS CITY REGION. family and include upper- and underside views, where By Betsy Betros. 407pp. ISBN 978-1-933466-86-6. possible, of both sexes and occasional color variants. $24.95 US. 5..5" x 8.5" softbound, lavishly illustrated Larvae and chrysalides are given for a number of with over 1100 color photographs. Kansas City Star species as well. Books, Kansas City, MO. Date of publication August The vast majority of the photos are of live, perched 2008. specimens, but some spread material is also included This is an incredibly well-researched book, as for comparison of "look-alike" species (using white evidenced by the very first two names under circles or lines to elucidate important differences). It Acknowledge;nents: Richard Heitzman, and Floyd & also includes extensive coverage ofthe skippers and has June Preston. The book is aimed at everyone from a comparison key for the upper- and undersides oftheir brand-new beginner to serious, long-time students and \vings. should satisfy both groups admirably. On each page facing the photos ofa given species are Beginning sections include: Butterfly or moth?; Parts a series ofcharts indicating habitat (7 categories), adult of a butterfly; Names and nomenclature; Common and nectar sources (6 categories), larva nests (y, N), winter Latin names; Stages of a butterfly's life; Butterfly stage (none, egg, larva, pupa, adult, or migrant), # of predators, disease, parasitoids; What do caterpillars & broods (1-4, unknO\\11), courtship (patrol, or perch), adults eat?; How butterflies spend the winter; adult flight (by months), egg laying (singly, cluster, + six Monarchs--extreme ovelWintering; Rearing substrate choices), and status (resident, migrant, caterpillars; Gardening for butterflies (with tables of immigrant, stray). adult nectar plants and caterpillar host plants); and In addition to the concise information given in the many other topicS, including good coverage of field boxes, the facing page also includes: distributional data equipment and photography. for Missouri, Kansas, Greater Kansas City, and general The species accounts are the meat-and-potatoes of range; similar species; larval food; variants; other this book, treating 100 species of the Kansas City names; and other information. Region plus another 31 rare species and strays from As if this wealth of data weren't enough, there are --.