Includes bibliographical references and index.

This book contains 36 chapters divided into 4 sections exploring the complexity in wing patterns and forms, of life history traits and variety of behaviours of butterflies. The various structures among suites of butterfly life history and behavioural traits, the associations among them and links that may be regarded as cause-effect or influence are also discussed.

Reality, abstractions and systems -- Types of systems -- Structure and relationship in systems -- Systems states -- Measurement of relationships in systems -- Catering for taxa and phylogenies -- Systematic reviews of research findings : meta-analysis and evidence-based programmes -- Taxonomic constraints in biological systems -- The time frame in butterfly biology systems -- The space frame for butterfly biology systems -- Habitat : the context for individuals and populations -- The butterfly body frame : basic contrasts in butterfly biology -- Trade-offs and regulation in butterfly biology -- Model taxa and model systems -- Butterfly databases -- Basic connections and broad divisions in butterfly biology -- Size, brood number and development : fewer large eggs or more small eggs? -- Conundrum of larval growth : fast and small, slow and large, or neither? -- Alternatives to continuous development : to stay and adjust or leave? -- Single or gregarious living? Host drivers and taxon dependence -- Alternatives in mating : when, how often and for how long? -- Income or capital breeding : Invest now and pay later, or pay as you go? -- Mechanisms for survival : an arsenal for all occasions -- Mimicry : honest and dishonest signals of unpalatability -- Mechanisms extending survival into exploitation -- Adult lifespan : the implications of living for longer -- The context and dimensions for observing individual behaviour -- Basking modes, heat and water balance : adjustments to abiotic conditions -- Adult Feeding : refuelling strategies -- Mate location and courtship : finding suitable mates -- Courtship : doing the business -- Roost and rest sites : taking a break -- Egg-laying : unloading the next generation -- Larval feeding : body building under duress -- Choosing pupation sites : selecting sites for the final transformation -- Adult anti-predator behaviour : life and death in the habitat.

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