Most of us have heard of such popular butterflies as the Monarch or Painted Lady. But what about the Fender鈥檚 Blue? Or the St. Francis鈥� Satyr? Because of their extreme rarity, these butterflies are not well-known, yet they are remarkable species with important lessons to teach us. The Last Butterflies spotlights the rarest of these creatures鈥攕ome numbering no more than what can be held in one hand. Drawing from his own first-hand experiences, Nick Haddad explores the challenges of tracking these vanishing butterflies, why they are disappearing, and why they are worth saving. He also provides startling insights into the effects of human activity and environmental change on the planet鈥檚 biodiversity.
Weaving a vivid and personal narrative with ideas from ecology and conservation, Haddad illustrates the race against time to reverse the decline of six butterfly species. Many scientists mistakenly assume we fully understand butterflies鈥� natural histories. Yet, as with the Large Blue in England, we too often know too little and the conservation consequences are dire. Haddad argues that a hands-off approach is not effective and that in many instances, like for the Fender鈥檚 Blue and Bay Checkerspot, active and aggressive management is necessary. With deliberate conservation, rare butterflies can coexist with people, inhabit urban fringes, and, in the case of the St. Francis鈥� Satyr, even reside on bomb ranges and military land. Haddad shows that through the efforts to protect and restore butterflies, we might learn how to successfully confront conservation issues for all animals and plants.
A moving account of extinction, recovery, and hope, The Last Butterflies demonstrates the great value of these beautiful insects to science, conservation, and people.
Awards and Recognition
- Longlisted for the Young Adult Science Book Award, AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books
"There are heroes in this story, and Haddad does a wonderful job of celebrating them."鈥擩onathan Hahn, Sierra
"A valuable lens on the biodiversity crisis. Yet Haddad does not just gather data on habitat loss and other drivers of decline鈥攁lthough he does that with crystalline acuity. He emphasizes that measures such as restoring ecological systems can protect populations of these fragile 'ambassadors of nature', against the odds."鈥擝arbara Kiser, Nature
"Haddad eloquently argues that conserving butterflies is not about preserving an organism or habitat in aspic鈥攖hat way lies stagnation and decline鈥攊t鈥檚 about enabling a dynamic and resilient environment."鈥擱ichard Jones, BBC Wildlife Magazine
"Wonderfully informative . . . Haddad has that rare ability to make difficult science accessible to those of us who are not trained in the nuances of ecological quantification and he does so without talking down to us."鈥擪eith Taylor, WUOM鈥檚 Stateside
"A powerful study of what a declining insect population reveals about how we are treating the planet . . . . fine and compelling book."鈥擩ules Pretty, Times Higher Education
"We need to do better at embedding nature conservation, knowledge generation, and long-term monitoring as core goals in land management initiatives. The Last Butterflies shares some inspiring examples of how to achieve this."鈥擬anu. E. Saunders, Trends in Ecology & Evolution
"Haddad is extremely knowledgable about this subject, and is also able to successfully communicate that knowledge to a wider audience"鈥擧arry Siviter, The Biologist
"The Last Butterflies does a remarkable job weaving together the stories of the rarest of butterflies, changing landscapes, and the day-to-day work of the scientists who study them."鈥擥retchen LeBuhn, American Entomologist
"The author has devoted his life to butterflies . . . His guiding principle is that humans should not be the cause of the extinction of these extremely rare species by promoting rather than destroying biodiversity - it is a moving personal ecological odyssey."鈥�Paradigm Explorer
"[The Last Butterflies] is infused with enthusiasm for conservation efforts, both now and in the future, and with an admiration for the beauty, fragility, and resilience of butterflies. It is an important book for anyone concerned with biodiversity and conservation issues. It鈥檚 also an eye-opening and engaging read for anyone with an interest in butterflies."鈥擱achel Pagones, New Books in Environmental Studies
"This is an unusual, honest and informative book. . . . clearly written and attractively presented."鈥擩ohn Tennent, Atropos Magazine
"A nice read that those interested in conservation will enjoy. . . . the author argues that even if rare butterflies may make a negligible contribution to ecological services, there are still compelling reasons to protect them."鈥�Conservation Biology
"One of the best books about conservation biology that I鈥檝e read in a long time. The Last Butterflies reads with the ease of a novel. Part adventure tale and part detective story, it leads you in search of the world鈥檚 rarest butterflies and the ways we might save them."鈥擬atthew Shepherd, Wings
"If you are interested in conservation, butterflies, insects, or any combination of the three, I would recommend picking up this volume."鈥擟as Carroll, The Quarterly Review of Biology
"As a nature enthusiast, this book will give you new perspectives on conservation and the many unseen factors in what keeps a species afloat."鈥擳revor Edmonson, The Daily Journal
"This is a fantastic read told in a personal and engaging manner. . . . Would I recommend anyone to buy it? Yes, if they have any interest in natural history. This is a very accessible book, as well as being very tactile, and definitely worth the investment."鈥擲imon R. Leather, Oryx: The International Journal of Conservation
"A thoroughly entertaining AND informative read - you can't put it down."鈥擩ohn Badmin, British Journal of Entomology and Natural History
"Haddad has evaluated some of the rarest butterflies in the world, and then investigated the reasons for their rarity and possible approaches to saving them from extinction. . . . Anyone who is contemplating a career in wildlife management or biodiversity should definitely have a copy on their bookshelf."鈥擩acqueline Ruffle, Amateur Entomological Society
"The Last Butterflies tells the story of six rare insects and the specific challenges they face. But its lessons are broader than that. The book offers case studies in how conservation efforts can succeed and鈥攋ust as significantly鈥攈ow they can fail."鈥擡lizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
"Of all the dire measures of our current descent toward a lonelier planet, none is more heartbreaking than the global decline of butterflies. Butterflies are innocent, butterflies are beautiful鈥攄ammit, we need them. Why? For the same reasons we need tigers and blue whales and redwoods鈥攖hey are part of life鈥檚 tapestry and their grace informs our humanity. Haddad鈥檚 fine book not only charts the crisis, butterfly by butterfly, but suggests ways to resist it鈥攅ven reverse it."鈥擠avid Quammen, author of The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life
"In this magisterial work, Haddad tells the story of his quest to find the rarest butterfly species in the world. This beautiful book is full of the sorrows of loss, but also the wonders of natural history and the power of hope. Haddad spends many hours working to rescue species few have heard of in the hope that they will persist, these emblems of what we are losing and what can still be saved."鈥擱ob Dunn, author of Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live
"Butterflies. Everyone loves them. But what do we really know about their past, present, and future? Haddad has learned quite a lot in a lifetime of studying wild butterflies, and in this timely, important book he gifts us that knowledge in warm, personal prose that puts us right there with him among the beauties and puzzles of the natural world."鈥擟arl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel
鈥泪苍 The Last Butterflies, Haddad provides a close-up view of the insect apocalypse that threatens the future of everyone. He describes in vivid detail and with scientific accuracy the near-extinction of six rare butterflies. Haddad's riveting stories reveal the reason for such fates, including discoveries that will direct the future of butterfly and insect conservation for decades to come.鈥濃�擯aul R. Ehrlich, author of The Population Bomb and Extinction
鈥淏utterflies are truly fascinating. The topic of this book is superb, the selection of species is clever, and the combination of science, public policy, and personal experiences makes for compelling reading. The Last Butterflies makes a significant contribution to readers鈥� understanding of conservation science, the importance of biodiversity, and the interplay of scientific research and conservation action.鈥濃�擠avid Wilcove, author of The Condor鈥檚 Shadow: The Loss and Recovery of Wildlife in America
鈥泪苍 this book, Haddad captures the beauty of butterflies, the science of conservation, and the stories of the people surrounding these rare creatures鈥攃ollectors, gardeners, historians, students, scientists, and those who just have an avid love for butterflies. The Last Butterflies is a pleasure to read.鈥濃�擟heryl Schultz, Washington State University
鈥淎t its heart, this book is a journey of passion and curiosity鈥攕earching out opportunities to learn about some of the rarest butterflies in the world and more intimately understand their connections to each other and the commonalities of their declines. Haddad presents the story in a highly entertaining, conversational manner that blends details of his experiences with sound science.鈥濃�擩aret Daniels, Florida Museum of Natural History
