1995 - Toronto Entomologists' Association

Ontario InsectsThe Bookworm ~The Ontario NaturalizedGarden: the complete guideto using native plantsby Lorraine Johnson (218pp.,B & Willustrations, 7~ x 91,4, Whitecap Books,(Toronto) Ltd. 1995, ISBN 1-55110-305­2, softcover, $18.95)For anyone gardening with native plantsor naturalizing their lawn or garden toattract birds, butterflies and other wildlife,this book is essential! If you arecontemplating the creation of a naturalwoodland, meadow, prairie, wetland orpond habitat, Ms. Johnson will guideyou there in a highly readable fashion.I particularly enjoyed the chapter on thehistory of our changing attitudes towards"weeds" and the following chapterabout that most dominant of NorthAmerican weeds, lawn grass!The most important section of the bookmay be the 75 + native plant listingswith information on each species, itsappearance, height, soil and light requirements,flower colour, habitat preferenceand even seed germination proceduresfor everything from Beardtongueto Woodland Sunflower.For those who are primarily interestedin attracting butterflies, moths or otherinsects I shall quote from the chapteron Attracting Wildlife: " ...native plantsare ideal for this purpose as they haveevolved over thousands of years in associationwith butterflies - the symbioticfit of butterfly mouth parts and correspondingnectar parts is truly incredible- and they have the perfumed nectarthat has been bred out of manyfaintly scented hybrids..."There is a useful list of nectar-produc-. ing native wildflowers and those whichattract specific butterfly species for egglaying,such as Turtlehead for the BaltimoreCheckerspot. The author has alsocompiled one of the most comprehensiveand useful resource sections I'veseen - more than 35 pages of books,magazines and organizations related toecology, naturalization, conservation,threatened species, plant propagationand, most importantly, a list of almost50 native plant sources to begin yourOntario naturalized garden!As an experienced native plant gardenerof over a decade, I can highly recommendthis book!Paul McGaw(Please note that Ms. Johnson will be ourspeaker for the November 25th meeting andthat she will have copies of her book forsale at that time - Ed. )Alberta Butterfliesby C.D. Bird, G.]. Hilchie, N. G. Kondla,E.M. Pike and F.A.H. Sperling (347pp.,numerous colourphotographs andillustrations,8lh x 11, The Provincial Museum ofAlberta, Edmonton, Alberta. 1995, ISBN0-7732-1672, hardcover, $44.95 + $4.36shipping in Canada + G.S. T. Availablefrom Federation of Alberta Naturalists,Box 1472, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 2N5,403-453-8629, fax: 403-453-8553)This is a finely crafted publication whichis packaged in an attractive jacket illustratedbya colour plate of a Spring Azureas photographed by John Acorn, a wellknownAlberta Naturalist and TV natureshow producer and star, who is theauthor of the field guide, The Butter-flies of Alberta, published in 1993 byLone Pine Publishing of Edmonton,Alberta.Alberta Butterflies has eight chapters.Chapter 1has eight sections which coverButterfly Study in Alberta, BiographicalHistory of Butterfly Study in Alberta,Butterfly Habitat in Alberta, Evolution,Life History, Ecology, Behaviour, andButterfly Gardening in Alberta. Chapters2 through 8 are dedicated to eachbutterfly family that occurs in Alberta.There is also a checklist of Alberta Butterflies.I was particularly impressed with thephotographic identification keys providedfor each of the families. In myopinion these break new ground in theway that keys are presented. Each ofthe 176 species of butterflies recordedin the province is given complete andthorough coverage including colour illustrationsof the adults, the hostplants,an occurrence map and a North Americanrange map.The authors impress me as being moreup-to-date in their nomenclature thanany other similar publication that I amaware of. For example, they show theNorthern Pearl Crescent as Phyciodescocyta (Cramer)(1777) and clarified thedifferences between it and P. tharos.This book is recommended.Quimby F. HessMore Book Reviews on page 18...September, 199515