Which field guide is best for me?
Buying the right guide to identifying butterflies is important for both the keen amateur naturalist and professional field worker alike. The are many to choose from - tiny pocket guides and fold-out charts to enormous encyclopaedias.
Small and portable, or large and comprehensive?
Portability is a key consideration particularly if your guide is to be regularly carried into the field. Books termed as ‘pocket’ guides are typically paperback and, not surprisingly, small enough to fit in a pocket. They are great for portability but always check the species coverage – some only cover common species or if more comprehensive, lack good illustrations for all species. ‘Field’ guides tend to be larger, more comprehensive (in terms of species, descriptions and additional information) and usually hardback. A rigid cover benefits in being more robust (useful for heavy field use) but does add extra weight to your backpack. The large encyclopaedia-type books are too heavy and cumbersome to carry with you into the field. They can fit larger/more illustrations, more detailed descriptions and additional information (such as distribution maps) – making them an excellent additional reference to a smaller portable guide.
Photographs or illustrations?
The way in which butterflies are illustrated is one of the most important features to consider when choosing a guide – and the most highly debated! At first it would seem a photographic guide is superior to a painted one. But a photograph of an individual may not resemble others of the same species. This is particularly crucial to remember with butterflies – there may be regional variation in some species and appearance may vary between sexes. The reflective nature of butterfly wing scales also means that different light conditions can produce very different photographs. Having said that, some feel that a good quality photograph of a species in its natural environment is a highly important identification aid. Guides which highlight distinguishing features and/or illustrate both sides of the wing are very useful.
Local or wide coverage?
Geographic coverage varies between butterfly guide books. A guide covering the whole of Europe may seem appealing as it can be taken on any expedition/holiday. You will soon find yourself trying to plough through many pages of species that are irrelevant to your studies in the UK. A guide concentrated on the region you are most likely to use it is advisable along with a broader guide for trips further afield.
How are species organised?
The general format of the book should be considered. Guides can vary greatly in how they organise species - some by colour, other by family and so on. This is really down to your personal preference, provided you can quickly navigate to right species in the field. Books arranged by similar morphological features are better for the novice. Books arranged phylogenetically are better for those with some grounding in the Lepidoptera families. Additional information can be really useful, especially distribution data illustrated on maps, but again the longer the descriptions and additional chapters, the greater the weight making it less suitable as a guide for the field.
A final note
These are suggestions for factors to take into account, but in choosing a field guide personal preference is key - find what works for you! Everything discussed can easily be applied to other wildlife guides such as moths, mammals, birds and so on.
