Oracle PL/SQL for DBAs

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The animals on the cover of Oracle PL/SQL for DBAs are butterflies. Moths and butterflies comprise a very large group called Lepidoptera, or “scaly-winged” insects. An estimated 150,000 different species are included in this group—more than any other type of insect except beetles. Although most species of butterflies are found in tropical areas such as rainforests, they inhabit almost all types of environments throughout the world. The butterfly’s only climate demand is adequate heat since it must maintain a body temperature of 86 degrees in order to fly. To solve this problem, some butterflies are not butterflies in the winter, but pupa. Other species hibernate in tree trunks or migrate south. The monarch, for example, has been known to migrate as far as 2,000 miles in the fall, flying from Canada to central Mexico.

The butterflies appearing on this cover are members of the family Pieridae, of which there are about 60 species in North America and more than 1,000 species worldwide. Butterflies of this family are characterized by their medium size, forked claws, and full-sized forelegs. Many also exhibit sexual dimorphism and have wings that reflect and absorb ultraviolet light in specific patterns, helping them to identify potential ...