• The Dangerous World of Butterflies: the Startling Subculture of Criminals, Collectors, and Conservationists. Peter Laufer. Lyons. 271 pages. $24.95.

''To me,'' Peter Laufer writes, ''journalism is an all-or-nothing calling. A real journalist is a journalist to the grave.'' But even the toughest reporters can get worn out. Laufer, author of many hard-edged books -- about the rise of neo-Nazism, vigilantes on the Mexican-American border and, more recently, the suffering of soldiers returning from Iraq -- has decided to take on a more lighthearted subject: butterflies.

He begins his sally in Nicaragua, where he learns of a conflict between the ''butterfly huggers'' of the North American Butterfly Association and the International Butterfly Breeders Association over the staged release of butterflies at public events. His investigation reveals a sordid underworld of butterfly hobbyists in which ``nefarious collectors fuel criminal butterfly poachers worldwide.''

Laufer writes with humor, as if to concede that he's trying too hard to find an exciting story where one doesn't exist. Nevertheless, his book is charming, and his attention to detail, combined with a real gift for describing these fascinating characters -- like calling entomologist Arthur Shapiro ''an endless litany of intriguing butterfly stories'' -- made me want to read everything else he has written. And I'm certain to look differently at the butterflies in my own backyard, knowing now how far they may have traveled to get there.

Andrew Ervin reviewed this book for The Washington Post.

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@