Butterflies

By: Jon Dunn

Published by Laurence King, 2026-03-17

Butterflies come in every color of the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, and white. But their vibrant wings aren't just beautiful, they give each butterfly a special power too. Over the years, butterflies' wings have brightened, dulled and transformed as they adapt to their ever-changing environments, helping them survive and thrive through everything from the industrial revolution to the climate crisis. Colors help butterflies camouflage and stay safe in their surroundings, making them disappear among vibrant flower petals and invisible against bronze tree trunks. Intricate patterns on their wings confuse and scare away predators, but they can attract the perfect mate too. And then there are some butterflies who are not in fact the color the appear to be at all--instead they are iridescent and simply reflecting the light. In this beautifully illustrated book, you'll discover hundreds of different colored and patterned butterflies from around the world and find out what makes them so special. You'll also learn about the butterfly life cycle, their sense of smell, taste and sight, flight and migration, as well as what butterflies have mean to us and why they're important players in our ecosystem. CONTENTS INCLUDE * Stunning gallery-style spreads grouping butterflies together by color * Detailed examination of the four stages of the butterfly life cycle: Egg-larva-chrysalis-butterfly * The amazing Monarch migration from North America to Mexico * How color works in butterfly wings, and how butterflies use color to their advantage * The threats to butterfly populations and things we can do to help * The survival techniques of caterpillars Author Jon Dunn is a natural history writer, photographer, and wildlife tour guide based in the Shetland Isles, Scotland, but with strong links in mainland Europe and North America that see him traveling widely in search of memorable wildlife encounters. Jon's words are accompanied by stunningly detailed watercolor illustrations by South African artist Georgina Taylor.