100 Caterpillars
Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica

Every bright monarch butterfly or striking luna moth started out in a far subtler form of nature's mosaic, a humble caterpillar. This title features over 100 photographs of caterpillars that document a variety of shapes, colors, and cryptic markings among these species, revealing life histories as diverse as their forms.

Throughout, the authors convey an intimate sense of these creatures - studied over twenty-five years - by focusing on how their features figure in their behavior and ecology, and on the beauty of nature in this life stage, as well as the nature of that beauty. The story of the caterpillars is also the success story of Area de Conservacion Guanacaste - where the long-term work of Janzen and Hallwachs, and a team of gusaneros (caterpillar collectors and rearers), along with the participation of neighboring farming communities, has deepened understanding of Costa Rica's Lepidoptera and has brought about advances in restoration ecology of tropical habitats, biodiversity prospecting, biological control of pests, biotechnology, residents' bioliteracy, and ecotourism development.

A Natural History of Butterflies and Moths
A Gallery of Butterflies and Moths
Behavior, Ecology, and Caterpillar Images
Life History and the ACG Environment
What's in a Name?
The Parataxonomists: Lepidoptera and Plant Biologists

References
Acknowledgments
Numerical Species List
Alphabetical Species List