April 7, 2008 Meeting
The Art of Function: The Function of Art
with Professor Jeffrey Miller

Jeffrey Miller is working with Dave Janzen in Costa Rica where they are comprehensively investigating the Moths and Butterflies in one large province of this biologically diverse country. The Janzen project has trained Costa Rican workers to find caterpillars on host plants. The caterpillars and some leaves of their host plant are brought to a breeding area where caterpillars emerge. In this way the project has identified the complete cycle from host plant to butterfly or moth. Many new species are often found in this manner. The photos of butterflies and moths will be spectacular and diverse.

Costa Rican Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars are renowned for glorious colors and patterns. Beyond their beauty these colors and patterns may be: conspicuous, warning colors as a special means of defense, or cryptic-concealment through camouflage. Professor Miller will present photos of caterpillars, moths and butterflies to illustrate the roles colors and patterns play in the Darwinian contest of survival of the fittest.

Professor Miller is a specialist in insect ecology and biodiversity. With D. H. Janzen and W. Hallwachs he has coauthored two books: 100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica, and 100 Caterpillars: Portraits from the Tropical forests of Costa Rica.

Meeting Details: Date: Monday, April 7, 2008 Time: 7:00 PM Friends and Food 7:30 PM Presentation Location: EWEB Training Center 500 E. 4th Avenue Eugene Cost: FREE

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