Butterflies Of West Africa Text Volume and Plate Volume Set

Torben B. Larsen’s Butterflies of West Africa is a monumental two-volume set representing the most exhaustive treatment of West African butterflies ever published. Drawing on decades of fieldwork and research, this landmark publication identifies and describes over 1,500 species and subspecies found across the 16 countries of the West African subregion, including rare and newly described taxa.

Volume 1 provides a comprehensive introduction to butterfly biology, ecology, behavior, and conservation in West Africa. It includes detailed discussions on climate, habitats, zoogeography, mimicry, and the role butterflies play in ecosystems. The volume also begins the species accounts, organized by family and genus.

Volume 2 completes the systematic treatment, continuing with in-depth descriptions and taxonomic notes. It includes over 130 beautifully executed colour plates, many showing both dorsal and ventral views of specimens, sexual dimorphism, and regional variations. The appendices offer a wealth of reference material: regional checklists, a glossary of terms, extensive bibliography, and indexes by scientific and common names.

Key features:

Over 1,500 species and subspecies covered

More than 2,000 colour illustrations and distribution maps

Field and museum research compiled over 40+ years

Identification keys and ecological data

Emphasis on both widespread and endemic species

Insight into conservation challenges and efforts in the region

Larsen, one of the world’s foremost butterfly authorities, synthesizes a lifetime of expertise in this set, making it an indispensable resource for lepidopterists, ecologists, conservation planners, and serious collectors. Whether as a research tool or a collector’s item, Butterflies of West Africa stands as a benchmark in African entomology and natural history publishing.