General

Burris, Judy, and Richard, Wayne.  The Life Cycles of Butterflies.  North Adams. MA: Storey Publishing, 2006.  [An extensively photographed,  well-organized study of every life stage of 23 common garden butterflies.  Good info on host and nectar plants.  Great for the beginning or seasoned butterflier.]

Chech, Rick, and Tudor, Guy.  Butterflies of the East Coast-An Observer's Guide.  Princeton, NJ:  Princeton University Press, 2005.        [A user-friendly reference book with detailed accounts of the identification, ecology and behavior of 234 species of East Coast butterflies, complete with  exceptional photography.  Also discusses conservation of threatened habitats of the East Coast.]

Mikula, Rick.  The Family Butterfly Book.  Pownal, VT: Storey Books, 2000. [An easy and complete guide for the beginning butterflier; aimed at the whole family.  Limited number of species listed, but well-done illustrations show each phase of the life cycle. This book touches on all aspects; includes projects.]

Stokes, Donald and Lillian.  The Butterfly Book.  Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1991.  [An easy guide to butterfly gardening, identification, and behavior.  Good info on attracting butterflies and larvae; beautiful illustrations and photographs.]

Butterfly Gardening

Ajilvsgi, Geyata:  Butterfly Gardening for the South.  Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company, 1990.  [Timeless info including the needs and life cycle of the butterfly, garden design, list of host and nectar plants, and much more.  A great reference and resource book.]

Pettersen, Jeanne H., and Sale, Connie.  Gardening for Butterflies in Hampton Roads.  Chesapeake, VA: Plants with a Purpose, 1993. [Complete beginner’s “How To”; info includes life cycle, needs, garden design and plants/shrubs/trees that do well in Hampton Roads.]

Potter-Springer, Wendy.  Grow a Butterfly Garden.  Pownal, VT: Storey Publishing Bulletin, 1990.  [Good “How To” info, especially host plant list.]

Identification Guides

Brock, Jim P., and Kaufman, Kenn. Butterflies of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003. >

Carter, David.  Eyewitness Handbooks:  Butterflies and Moths.  New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc., 1992. [Guide to 500+ species from around the world; organized by family names (in Latin); color illustrations accompany text.]

Cech, Rich, and Tudor, Guy.  Butterflies of the East Coast.  Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 2005.  [Detailed accounts of the identification, ecology and behavior of 234 species of butterflies.  Also discusses conservation of threatened habitats of the East Coast.]

Covell, Charles V., Jr.  Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1984. [One of few completely moth books; color plates separate from text.]

Glassberg, Jeffrey.  Butterflies Through Binoculars — The East.  New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.  [This guide has 625 photographs of live butterflies in their natural settings well organized into color plates; range maps adjacent to plates very helpful; emphasizes conservation over collection.]

Opler, Paul A.  Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Butterflies.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1992.  [Descriptions of 500+ species, with range maps; color plates separate from text.]

Opler, Paul A.  Peterson First Guides: Butterflies and Moths.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1994. [A simplified guide to common butterflies and moths of North America; for all ages; easy to use; illustrations accompany text.]

Pyle, Robert M.  National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies.  New York: Chanticleer Press, Inc., 1994. [This guide organizes color plates with thumb tabs to quickly identify by silhouette, pattern, or color; color plates separate from text.]

Wagner, David L.  Caterpillars of Eastern North America.  Princeton:  Princeton University Press, 2005.  [A compact, orgainized, but highly detailed field guide to caterpillars of nearly 700 butterflies and moths.]