First, as a photographic art book, it includes lots of large-format images of moths and butterflies, and its intended to convey the intricacy and beauty of these creatures. Of course, images of beautiful butterflies are commonplace; but images of moths are not: moths are most usually thought of as dull, brown nuisances which eat your clothes (only 2-3 species out of several thousand actually do eat animal fur such as wool or fur; the vast bulk eat live plant material). Of the approx 125 species featured, approx 8% are moths, while the remainder are butterflies. The book aims to show that moths are beautiful and deserve respect. Second, the book is a reference/information guide, containing general information about moths and butterflies (including some information which, though dealt with simply and briefly, is reasonably scholarly, in that even people with a general interest in lepidoptery might find information they didnt previously have). Of course there are already several reference works - some of them very complete - for identifying moths and butterflies. But these are often bewildering, since they usually cover the moths and/or butterflies of Britain and Ireland, or even of Europe. The sheer number of species covered in such books - the vast bulk of which are not found in one locality - can make such books difficult to use. This books covers not all, but many of, the moths and butterflies which may be spotted specifically in Connemara - a region which is remote and which possesses its own special mix of habitats: acid soils, bogland, heathland, relatively few trees, coastal margins... The book also contains a chapter which very specifically links the totality of the species contained to the Connemara habitat. It contains information (and images) concerning some of the lesser known plants which butterfly and moth caterpillars feed upon. Thus, it opens a gateway to a broader understanding of a given mix of habitats, via an understanding of the mix of moths and butterflies which occur there.The book will be of interest to nature lovers in general. It should be noted that many visitors to Connemara (and there are vast numbers each year!) have an interest in nature and countryside, but may spend their entire time here without seeing more than a few garden birds. They will rarely see deer, or otters, or Irish Stoat, or hares, or unusual birds. But they can open their eyes to the nature thats all around them, in the form of a wide mix of beautiful moths and butterflies! Finally, the book illustrates how the numbers and mix of moths and butterflies demonstrate what is happening to our environment, as climate changes and average temperatures increase - as well as other (mostly malign) human influences on our environment. As such, it is a plea to pay attention to moths and butterflies and their welfare, and through them, to nature itself.

About the Author

Before retiring in 2007, Heather Greer ran her own consulting business, in the field of climate change-related energy policies and programmes. During her career, she authored many technical reports for governments/governmentagencies, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. A Chartered Engineer, Heather also has a degree (with Distinction) in English; an MSc in management and organisation theory; and a PhD in social psychology (identity theory). She is an elected Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry. Heather has had a lifetime interest in photography and in nature; and in the past twenty years especially she has developed her passion for moths and butterflies. Since retiring, she has mounted several photographic exhibitions - some featuring her landscape photography, some her images of moths and butterflies. Her photographs have been used in many publications (magazines, newspapers, greetings cards, calendars, television programmes, on book covers...); and a part of a much larger exhibition of photos of moths and butterflies of Connemara forms a permanent exhibition in the Visitors Centre in the Connemara National Park, Letterfrack, Connemara. Also since retiring, Heather has developed her interest in playing, teaching and writing about Irish traditional music, and has published two books in this field. With her partner Mary, she runs professionally several regular sessions of Irish music.Heather continues to spend time at her other lifetime passions, sailing and nature. She and her partner are currently researching/writing a book on the natural and social history of a nearby important tidal island of great historical and ecological importance. Heather lives with her partner Mary and their two dogs, facing the Atlantic, in north-west Connemara.