Inchworms tiger moths underwings owlet moths silkworms sphinx moths grass moths and
butterflies. Collectively these and many others are the Lepidoptera one of the most diverse
groups of animals on the planet. Lepidoptera can be found in the highest tropical canopies the
driest deserts and at the leading edge of science. The adults include some of the most
beautiful insects that have inspired artists and have sailed through the dreams of human
cultures for millennia. The immature stages (caterpillars) like the underwing depicted on the
cover link together vital processes in diverse terrestrial ecosystems that are only barely
documented let alone understood. The people that study these animals are lepidopterists and
the goal of this book is to introduce them with their own words. In twenty chapters
lepidopterists tell their stories and these tales mirror the diversity of nature in their
range and depth. You will find individuals that wrestle with the challenges of scientific
careers stories of far flung travel sand close calls and historical perspectives on recent
decades of scientific break throughs.
