The Last Butterflies: Book Review

Nick Haddard is a scientist that is extremely knowledgeable of their subject but also able to relay that information to a wider audience.

In the last butterflies Haddard describes his own unique quest to work with, study, and protect the rarest surviving butterfly species that survive today. We meet six contenders for this poisoned chalice and are enlightened as to why these species are rare, what scientists are learning about them, and most importantly, how the ongoing decline of these species can be halted.

We learn about remarkable biology of these butterflies. How the British Large Blue butterfly (now sadly extinct) was dependent on an ant species for its survival. How an artillery range produced the natural disturbance required for the site to become the last known strong hold of the St Francis’ Satyr butterfly.

While the title the last butterflies, might not be the most optimistic that you encounter this week, Haddards ‘positive vision’ is presnet throughout. One could argue that the title of this book does not do the author and his colleagues justice. Thanks to the dedication of scientists and conservationists, such as Haddard and many others, the butterflies described throughout this book will hopefully not be the last of their species.

Butterflies fly the flag for insect conservation. They are colourful, charismatic and rather enchanting. Indeed, this same description could be used to describe this book. Essential summer-time reading for any naturalist.

Book review done for the biologist magazine. Click here for link.