Arguably the best-known Lepidopterist in the world, historian and philosopher of science, Bernard d’Abrera, has over a period of nearly 45 years produced 32 volumes dedicated to the taxonomy of the butterflies and larger moths of the world. His butterfly books comprise taxonomic text of over 5 million words, illustrated with over 66,000 butterfly pictures, over approximately 8,500 pages.

Of that number, 21 volumes have been specifically dedicated to the taxonomy of the true butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea) of the world, based on non-speculative and therefore scientifically demonstrable Linnaean systematics.

Bernard d’Abrera graduated with double majors in History & Philosophy of Science, and History, from the University of New South Wales in Sydney in 1965. In 1969, he began producing his series on the Butterflies of the World with his volume on Butterflies of the Australian Region. Twelve years and five books later, he decided to take over as much of the control of the production of his butterfly books as he could. Two years after establishing Hill House Publishers, Bernard d’Abrera was recognised for his work by wining the coveted Rolex Award (Hon. Mention) for Enterprise (1984).

Work with Museums

d’Abrera’s spectacular and scientifically accurate butterfly pictures are based largely upon the peerless collections of the Natural History Museum in London. He has also based his research for the butterfly series upon other worldwide museums such as the Macleay Museum in Sydney, the Museum Victoria in Melbourne www.museumvictoria.com.au, the Royal Museum for Central Africa at Tervuren, Belgium, www.africamuseum.be, as well as  private collections such as the African Butterfly Research Institute (ABRI) in Nairobi.

In the field

d’Abrera’s work in museums has been balanced by field expeditions, sometimes at the risk of his own life, to many countries, especially where environmental degradation has begun permanently to affect natural habitats for the worse. The author’s visits to the field are marked by his renowned photographic record of the living fauna in its natural environment.