Scoops are unusual moths. How many species of scoops are there in nature and what do they look like? Our photos and description of the insect will tell you about this.
Scoops or bat are a large family of Lepidoptera insects. There are more than 35 thousand species of scoops. There are about 1800 species in Europe, and more than 1500 species in Russia. Scoops are found in various parts of the world. Any climate is suitable for their life. Scoops thrive in deserts, mountains and tundra conditions.
Description of scoop
There are large types of scoops and very small ones. In large species, the wingspan can reach 130 millimeters, but there are also such small species that have a wingspan of no more than 10 millimeters.
Morphological features of scoops
The head of the scoop is round, the forehead is characteristically convex, in some individuals there are, on the contrary, depressions on the forehead.
In females, antennae have a simple structure, they are filiform or comb-like, sometimes they can be framed with fluffy cilia. The structure of the antennae of males is more complex.
Mountain scoops have elliptical or kidney-shaped eyes. Some species have simple eyes. The proboscis is well developed, in a resting state it is twisted. In some species, the proboscis is reduced. The surface of the proboscis is covered with "taste cones".
Among the scoops, there are "bloodthirsty" exceptions - individuals live in the tropics that feed on the lacrimal glands of mammals and their blood. Only males are bloodthirsty; they have a reinforced proboscis. Females have undeveloped proboscis, so their diet is more "dietary", they extract juice from fruits and plants.
Scoops are moths. The palps of scoops can be short or elongated. The head, chest and abdomen are often covered with scales and hairs. In addition, scoops may have tuft of hairs.
Spurs are often located on the shins, while other species have claws and spines. The shape of the wings is almost triangular, sometimes it can be elongated, and rarely rounded. In some species of scoop, wings are long and narrow, such wings allow butterflies to fly over long distances. In mountain species, the wings are short, and sometimes they can be completely reduced.
The body of the scoop is full, covered with thick hairs. On the wings there is a pattern of spots, the spots are round, wedge-shaped and kidney-shaped. Some species have spots of silvery and golden hues on the wings. The hindwings can be yellowish, blue, red and white. The scoops, which live in climates with colorful nature, often have a peculiar pattern on the wings and body.
Scoop development
There is a wide variety of scoops, so the life cycle of different species varies greatly.
Caterpillars have up to 6 instars, during which up to 5 molts pass. Northern and mountainous species generally have a two-year life cycle. Caterpillars pupate in the litter, soil or plant tissues. Pupae mainly hibernate, but caterpillars of middle or older age can also hibernate. In warm areas, moths develop continuously, several generations are formed during the year. In winter, they plunge into a "cold torpor".
The eggs are hemispherical. The surface of the eggs is cellular or ribbed. Scoop females lay their eggs on the ground. Fecundity of females can reach about 2 thousand eggs.
The caterpillar has a naked body, but it may have primary setae and, in some cases, secondary setae. The body color of caterpillars is green, yellow or brown. There are longitudinal stripes on the body. Sometimes false legs can be located on the abdominal segment. The moth caterpillars are active at night, and during the day they lead a hidden lifestyle. In some species, caterpillars are predators; they additionally feed on scale insects and worms.
Scoop harm
The caterpillars of the scoop are divided into intra-stem, gnawing and leaf-gnawing caterpillars. Mainly caterpillars feed on plant juices, some species eat plant litter, mosses and lichens. In addition, caterpillars damage fruits, flowers, and sometimes eat grain in storage. The scoops are agricultural pests.
Exclamation scoop
These pests spoil potatoes, onions, carrots, peas, corn, beets, lettuce, turnips, sunflowers, and strawberries. They destroy tubers and roots, after which the plants die.
The larvae of the exclamation moth spend most of the time in the ground, but at the top they can feed on leaves. The times of the wings of an adult scoop are 30-40 millimeters. The color ranges from dark brown to light gray.
Alfalfa scoop
These scoops are pests of agricultural crops. Alfalfa moths inhabit the entire territory of the Russian Federation. They damage the plantings of soybeans, flax, corn and alfalfa.
The wingspan of these butterflies reaches 38 millimeters. The wings are gray-green in color.
Pupae of alfalfa moths spend the winter in the soil. The flight of adult butterflies takes place in May-June. The moths living in forest-steppe zones develop 2 generations.
Stalk scoop
These scoops damage cereal crops. Stemworms live in the steppe zone of Siberia. These pests damage rye, wheat, corn and oats.
Scoop butterflies of this species reach 38 millimeters in length. The wings are yellowish-white, with a light stripe in the center. Pupae are black-brown in color, they are 15 millimeters long.
The caterpillars of the stem moth gnaw through the bases of the stems, are located inside the stem and suck out the juices of the plants. Plants dry out from such sabotage, and the ears do not ripen.
Moths fly in June-July. Females lay medium-sized eggs; in egg-laying, their number reaches 130 pieces. One generation of the stemworm develops in one season.
Spring scoop
This type of scoop damages cereals. Spring moths live in the steppes and forests of Russia. Pests ravage the plantings of barley, oats, wheat and corn. In length, these butterflies reach 34 millimeters.
The wings are rusty-brown in color, there may be an orange or white spot. Females lay about 500 eggs. One generation occurs in the spring moth per year.
Pea scoop
The butterfly measures no more than 42 millimeters. The front wings are black-brown in color. There are transverse lines on the wings. Caterpillars are yellow in color, the body size of the caterpillars reaches 4 millimeters.
Pea scoops fly in June-September. These butterflies feed on succulent plants. One female lays up to 400 eggs. The caterpillars eat the leaves. 2 generations are developing in a year.
Sage scoop
These butterflies are pests of essential oil crops. Sage scoops are found wherever sage, lavender, mint, and other similar crops are found.
The wingspan of a butterfly reaches 40 millimeters. The front wings are yellow-gray, the hind wings are lighter.
The flight of these butterflies takes place in April-July. Fecundity of females is up to 600 eggs. Caterpillars damage leaves, ovaries, buds and pedicels. They begin to damage plants from top to bottom. 3 generations develop in a year.
Bluehead scoop
Blueheads harm fruit crops. They live all over Russia. Harm is caused to pears, apple trees, cherries, cherries, apricots, rowan, poplar, almond, oak, thorn, hawthorn and hazel.
The size of the butterfly is up to 50 millimeters. The wings of these scoops are purple, dotted with brown spots and lines. The dimensions of the caterpillar are up to 34 millimeters. The pupa reaches 17 millimeters in length. This species of scoop has one generation per year.
Yellow-brown early scoop
This type of scoop is especially harmful to fruit crops. Early moths live practically throughout Russia. Pests damage raspberries, apples, cherries, pears, plums, peaches and various forest species.
Butterflies reach 35 millimeters in length. The color of the front wings is yellowish with a white stripe, the hind wings are fringed. The body length of caterpillars reaches 40 millimeters, and the pupae - 15 millimeters.
Females of early scoops produce up to 900 eggs. The caterpillars of these scoops destroy ovaries and leaves.
Scoop gamma
These pests are polyphagous. They are ubiquitous in Russia. Gamma scoops damage field crops such as beets, potatoes, flax, hemp, legumes and the like.
Butterflies measure up to 48 millimeters. The front wings can be from purple to gray, they have a spot in the form of a "scale", hence the name. These scoops fly during the day and feed on flower nectar. One female lays 500-1500 eggs. 2 generations of gamma scoops can develop in a year.
Butterflies ... These delightful creatures have inspired artists and poets at all times. They fascinate with their beauty and lightness. You can probably watch for hours the flight of butterflies, the flutter of their delicate wings and smooth movement. Some types of butterflies are often found in our latitudes and therefore seem completely familiar and less attractive. But there are hundreds of thousands of species of butterflies in the world.
In Japan, they say: "To see a butterfly in your home is fortunate!"
The most beautiful butterflies
It is impossible to give a single answer to the question, which of the butterflies is the most beautiful. Each of them is unique and good in its own way. But, of course, a surprise gift in the form of bright, colorful butterflies can fill the room with magic! You can choose and buy butterflies at low prices on this website with delivery in Moscow. Such a gift will be unforgettable! I wonder which butterflies are regularly included in the lists of the most beautiful? Below will be presented the most beautiful butterflies in the world with names, as well as photos of beautiful rare butterflies.
Butterfly Prince
This insect is considered the largest nocturnal butterfly. Its front wings are curved in such a way that they imitate the head of a snake, which scares off enemies. This natural feature allows the insect to survive. Such coloring of a human butterfly, of course, does not frighten, but rather delights. Indeed, what an inventive nature can be!
The peculiarity of these butterflies is that their mouth apparatus is not developed at all. "How do they eat?" - many will think. The thing is that they live only one to two weeks and exist due to the processing of fat reserves accumulated in the cocoon.
Another name for the butterfly Prince - Peacock Eye Atlas Butterfly Birdwing
This butterfly also reaches large sizes, but it is active during the day, which is why it is called diurnal. The insect got such an interesting name due to its amplitude, like a bird's wingspan, which can reach 32 cm.
The birdwing is considered one of the rarest species of butterflies. He lives only in a small town of New Guinea. Because of this, the Birdwing is a valuable piece for many collectors.
The wings of the Birdwing male shine blue and green, outwardly even somewhat resembling the leaves of tropical plants. But the females are less bright, their wings are painted in black, cream and yellowish colors.
Another name for this butterfly is Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, named after the wife of the English king Edward VII. Urania butterfly
This colorful tropical butterfly lives in Madagascar. Urania has a truly wondrous color. Some parts of the wings are pigmented black, with colorless scales lying between them. These scales refract light, making the butterflies appear colored and change color from what angle you look at them.
In Madagascar Urania, orange, red and purple colors prevail in color. Interestingly, the pattern on the wings may not be symmetrical, which is due to the influence of external factors at the pupal stage.
The most beautiful Urania was recognized by the international scientific congress Butterfly Greta
Translated into Russian, the name of this butterfly sounds like "glass". The name is absolutely justified, because its wings are transparent, as if made of glass, and only along the periphery are bordered with a black-brown ribbon. This insect is found in Central and South America. It is believed that the butterfly is very common in this region, but it is not at all easy to spot it, because it is almost transparent. This is an excellent disguise that allows butterflies to hide from predators.
Butterfly Greta Oto is poisonous for predators, therefore they are in no hurry to feast on it Callima butterfly
Callima can be found in the tropics of Asia and Africa. This type of butterfly is, first of all, interesting for the unusual contour of its wings. The upper wings of the butterflies are painted in stripes of black, orange and blue, flowing harmoniously into each other.
But how bright they are during flight, they become so invisible when they sit on foliage and fold their wings. The thing is that the back surface of the wings is painted in a greenish color, which allows Callims to disguise themselves so well as foliage.
Callima butterflies are also called leaflets. Its wings when folded resemble the contours of a leaf. Butterfly Parides Arcas
These are butterflies from the sailfish family, medium in size. The body and wings of the insect are black, with scarlet and blue spots. These are very active butterflies that will fly around the room, and when they sit down somewhere, they will continue to open and close their wings. Amazing, fragile creatures that can captivate anyone with their beauty!
This butterfly is common from Mexico to Peru. Blue morpho butterfly
This butterfly is of medium size, its wingspan is usually no more than fifteen millimeters. But she captivated people not at all with these parameters, but with her amazing beauty. The scales of the wings are arranged in a special way, reflecting the sun's rays, making it seem as if the butterfly is glowing.
When the insect is sitting, it seems that the wings of its rich blue with a black border. But in fact, this is not the true color of the butterfly, but a play of light. When the butterfly flies, it shimmers under the sun's rays in different colors, then purple, then greenish. Such is the amazing blue Morpho butterfly.
Another name for this butterfly is the Morpho Peleis butterfly, in honor of the Greek hero, the son of Pelea and Thetis Peacock Butterfly
Peacock's Eye lives in Europe, as well as in the subtropical zone of Eurasia. They are especially common in Germany. As you might guess, this type of butterflies received such a name due to the external resemblance to the coloring of peacock feathers. The butterfly's body is colored black. But the wings are colored orange-brown with characteristic blue colored eyes. Miracle peacock butterfly!
The Latin name of this butterfly, Inachis io, comes from the names of King Inach and the daughter of Io, the heroes of ancient Greek mythology. Maak's sailboat
This butterfly is also called the Blue Swallowtail. In the male, most of the front wing is green, even emerald pollination. Part of the wing shimmers in deep black. The females of the Maak Sailboat have more varied colors, it is even considered that there are no two identical butterflies in the world. It is a rather large daytime butterfly, its wings can reach thirteen centimeters.
It is the largest diurnal butterfly found in the Russian Federation. Butterfly Hypolimnas bolina
Gipoliminas bolina are found in Southeast Asia, as well as Australia. These small butterflies are often called tiaras because of their bright blue, red and white wings, like the diamonds in the crown shimmer.
If you look at the butterfly from above, its wings are black, lighter on the outer edge. Males have white spots on their wings, which, when exposed to sunlight, shimmer with a purple color.
Butterfly Hypolimnas bolina is also called lunar. How many days do butterflies live at home?
It is certainly very pleasant to receive butterflies as a gift. But I really want these wonderful creatures to delight with their beauty as long as possible! How many days do butterflies live at home? On average, life expectancy ranges from a few days to several weeks. This of course depends on the type of butterfly, but also on the conditions in which they live. How to properly care for butterflies?
At night, butterflies are best placed in a box with holes made. And to maintain moisture at the bottom of the box, you can put a cotton swab dipped in water. - The comfortable temperature for the existence of butterflies is +20 degrees.
- Most butterflies love moisture, so you need to spray the insect with a spray bottle several times a day. It is enough to make one or two presses at a distance of 20-30 centimeters.
- Butterflies can fly around the room, sit down where it is convenient for them. But if you want to take it, take it by the little body, at the base of the wings. Remember, these are very fragile creatures.
- Butterflies feed on sugar syrup, crushed bananas or citrus fruits. It is enough to feed the butterfly once a day. To do this, gently take the insect by the body and place it with its paws on the edge of the saucer with the prepared delicacy. When the butterfly feels the delicacy, it will spread its proboscis and begin to eat.
Further
Live tropical butterflies - an unforgettable magical gift
Buy live butterflies: 4 options for decorating a gift
Several tips for catching butterflies and keeping them at home
Decorative butterflies as a gift - an original idea for a celebration
Top 10 most amazing butterflies in the world
- The wings are painted in such an unusual way that it cannot be confused with any butterfly in the world. Outwardly, the male and female are very similar to each other.
The range of the daytime peacock's eye covers all of Europe (except for the northernmost regions) and the temperate latitudes of Asia.
Butterflies hibernate in basements, attics, in caves ... Overwintered individuals fly in March - May, and a new generation appears in July - August.
The butterfly got its name because of the bizarre specks in the lower corner of the wings, which are similar to the shape of an eye. In general, the color of the Peacock's eye ranges from bright red to deep brown. All this is artistically diluted in black with beautiful patterns and stripes.
There is also a night peacock eye, which differs from its relative in darker colors and brown spots. Its outstretched wings reach 15 centimeters in length. At night, the Peacock's eye is very much like a bat rather than a butterfly.
Apollo
Day butterfly, listed in the Red Book. The butterfly is found in the Urals, Siberia and the Caucasus mountains. One of the reasons for this choice of terrain is the peculiarities of nutrition, Apollo prefers thickets of sedum and hare cabbage, which are found mainly in mountainous areas.
The butterfly has a bright beautiful color, it is clearly visible in open areas. Apollo is easily recognizable by its large wings with black and red spots. Depending on the location of the spots, more than 600 forms of this species are distinguished.
The butterfly can be found from June to August. Apollo flies slowly, imposingly, often gets tired, sits on flowers.
Apollo is a real "sissy", the butterfly needs good environmental conditions to survive. Bright sun and plenty of food are some of the most essential.
Admiral
The adults of the white admiral have black wings with white stripes. This color contrast helps to "break" the wing line, thereby camouflaging the butterfly from predators. Their wingspan is approximately 60-65 millimeters. The flight is very interesting, elegant, consisting of short flapping periods followed by long soaring.
Red admiral. It is a well-known brightly colored butterfly. This species constantly lives in warmer places, but in the spring it migrates to the north, and in the fall - sometimes - back. This large butterfly is easily distinguished by its bright dark brown with red and black wing patterns. Caterpillars feed on nettle leaves, adults drink nectar from flowers of plants such as buddleia (also called a butterfly bush for this reason) and can feast on overripe fruits.
In northern Europe, it is one of the last butterflies to be seen before winter: it appears near a faint light and feeds on the nectar of autumn flowers on warm days. The red admiral is also known for the fact that when he hibernates, he becomes darker in color than individuals that have not yet survived the winter. The butterfly can also fly out on sunny winter days, mostly in southern Europe.
Mourning
Many people had their first childhood impressions of butterflies when they met a large, spectacular, memorable funeral service. And for some future entomologists, these impressions turned out to be so strong that they determined the subsequent choice of a profession.
Its names in other languages are associated with the predominance of dark color on the wings of the funeral service. So. Americans call her mourning cloak "mourning cloak", and the French call her deuil - "mourning", "sorrow". Perhaps this was taken into account by K. Linnaeus, who named the butterfly antiopa in 1758 - after the daughter of the Theban king Niktea, who, even by the standards of ancient Greek myths, had to endure many troubles and sufferings.
“Its dark coffee, shiny, lacquered wings seem velvety due to the abundance of colored dust, and to the very abdomen or body they are covered as if with moss or thin reddish hairs. The edges of the wings, both upper and lower, are edged with a pale yellow, fawn, rather wide jagged border, carved with scallops ... and along the fawn border, on both wings, there are bright blue spots ... "S. T. Aksakov
Hives
The specific epithet of the scientific name, urticae, comes from the word urtica (nettle) and is explained by the fact that nettle is one of the food plants of the caterpillars of this species.
Males differ little from females in color. Wings dorsally brick-red, with a number of large black spots, at the costal margin separated by yellow intervals; small white spot near apex of fore wing. The basal half of the hind wing is brownish-brown; the outer half is brick-red; there is a sharp border between these areas. Along the outer edge of the wings, there is a row of crescent-shaped blue spots. The underside of the wings is brownish-brown; across the front wing there is a wide yellowish stripe.
It is found everywhere in Russia, except for the Far North.
Mother-of-pearl
Large mother-of-pearl from the genus Argynnis often fly together and are well distinguishable mainly along the underside of the hind wings. Males of the large forest nacre (A. paphia) with darkening along the longitudinal veins on the front wings; females are red or greenish-gray above. The bottom of the hind wings of this species has transverse light bands. The nacreous (A. aglaja) underneath with bright silvery spots, in the nacreous adippa (A. adippe) these spots are dimmer, and along the edge there is a row of eyes. All these species develop on violets.
Large and beautiful mother-of-pearl daphne (Neobrenthis daphne) is rare in the Baikal region and is listed in the Red Book, but a similar species of nacreous nacre (N. ino) is very commonplace in meadows and glades
Forest mother-of-pearl (male) 
Golubianki
A very large family of butterflies of small size (wingspan 27-28 mm), many of which have a shiny, metallic color. The shortened forelegs are the hallmark of bluebirds. Most European bluefishes are blue in color, although males are often brown. Among the pigeons there are those in which the rear pair of wings has characteristic outgrowths ("tails"), for this they are called "tails." In Russia, there are several hundred species of bluebirds from more than fifty genera. Bluebirds fly through meadows, forest edges and glades. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Caterpillars of some species pupate in anthills.
Golubian Icarus 
Golubyanka forest or Poluargus 
Belyanki
A family of diurnal butterflies with a predominantly white color of the wings and a pattern of yellow, orange and black spots and fields, with clavate screeds, rounded-triangular front and ovoid hind wings.
Cabbage butterfly 
Swallowtail
The great natural scientist Carl Linnaeus named this butterfly after the mythical hero of the Trojan War, the famous doctor Machaon, who relieved the suffering and saved the lives of many wounded soldiers.
Swallowtail is found throughout the country, with the exception of the Far North.
On the bright yellow wings of the swallowtail, blackened veins and a wide black border with wavy inner and serrated outer edges stand out. Along the border there is a band of blue dusting, especially bright on the hind wing, and along the outer edge there is a band of yellow spots-holes. The root area of the fore wing is black with yellow dusting. The hind wing is decorated with a bright red rounded spot and a black tail.
The caterpillar is not picky about food: it feeds on plants of the families of the umbrella, rue, Compositae and labiate. Swallowtail hibernates in the pupal stage.
In most of its range, swallowtail gives two generations a year, and only in its most northern regions - one. Butterflies of the first generation fly in May - June, and the second - in July - August.
Sericin montela
Sericin montela is one of the amazing Ussuri relics. The butterfly has been preserved here since ancient times, since the territory of the Primorsky Territory has never been fully glaciated; is rare. The background color of the female's wings is dark brown. Its fore wing is crossed by thin dark-yellow and ocher-yellow bands of various lengths. The flight of these butterflies is very slow, even sluggish. They always keep to thickets of caterpillar fodder plant - kirkazon, growing here and there along the banks of rivers, streams and at the foot of hills.
The wings of the male are white. The pattern of the fore wing is made up of black, mainly elongated spots, as well as darkening along the edge of its apex. The rear wing is decorated more effectively. At its front edge, a red elongated spot in a black frame usually stands out. A bright red short sling passes at the back corner, to the outer side of which blue spots in a black frame adjoin. The hind wing is completed with a long thin brownish-brown tail.
Maak's tail bearer
This largest diurnal butterfly in Russia surpasses many of its tropical relatives in its beauty. It is hard to believe that the area of distribution of this wonderful sailing ship extends to 54 ° north latitude, where Tynda and northern Sakhalin are located.
The female is larger than the male, her wingspan reaches 135 mm, while that of the male is 125 mm. A green spot spray evenly covers the entire dark brown forewing of the female. The nature of the pattern of its hind wings is the same as that of the male, but its luster is muted, and in the wavy edge border, along with green-blue, red-violet shades appear. Females are much more variable than males. It is difficult to find two identical butterflies among them.
A significant part of the black forewing of the male shimmers with a green dotted coating, which, closer to the edge, thickens into a sparse emerald-blue border. The area, free from green dusting, shines with magical black silk: it is covered with the finest and most delicate odorous black hairs - androconia. Hind wings with wavy edge and long tails shine, shimmering, blue-green ornament
Two generations of P. maackii appear annually: spring butterflies are medium-sized, light and bright, and summer ones are twice as large and darker.
The tail bearer Maaka lives in the Middle Amur Region, Primorye, North Korea, Manchuria, and the Kuril Islands. In these places, butterflies are often found in deciduous and mixed forests, less often in spruce and fir forests. They also fly into taiga villages. During the period when subalpine plants are blooming, butterflies rise to the mountains up to 2000 m above sea level: looking for food, they fly around treeless peaks in a circle.
Sometimes in Primorye one can observe how this huge dark butterfly, like a bird, rushes over a forest road, majestically flapping its powerful wings. On hot days, dozens of tail bearers sit around the roadside puddles, fluttering with flashing emerald greens and blue wings. Disturbed, they fly up like a dark cloud, from which rain drops of water golden under the sun, shaken off by butterflies. An unforgettable, fabulous sight!
Oleander hawk
The color of the oleander hawk moth, one of the most beautiful not only in Russia, but also in the world, is dominated by bright grassy green colors. Therefore, it is very difficult to see him when he is sitting in foliage or grass.
The vast area of distribution of the oleander hawk moth includes all of Africa, India and the countries of the Middle East lying between them. There are reports that they even made it to Hawaii. In the tropics, butterflies fly all year round. From Africa and the Middle East, butterflies penetrate into southern Europe, they live on the European continent and to the north. In Russia, they are most often found on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. The further north you go, the less often they appear, although occasionally these wonderful flyers can be seen in the Baltic States and on the Kola Peninsula.
The main food plants of caterpillars are oleander, periwinkle, grapevine; they can also feed on some other plants.
The narrow front fenders are adorned with an intricate pattern of intricately curved green and mauve stripes of various shades. The hindwings are lilac-gray with a green wide outer margin. The color and pattern of the wings are harmoniously combined with the coloring of the butterfly's body.
Butterflies are amazing creatures, refined, fragile and delicate. Everyone is surprised by the variety of patterns and colors of these creatures. They have been compared to unusual fluttering flowers. But even more people are surprised at how a caterpillar can transform into such an adorable creature.
Taxonomy
Butterflies are one of 34 orders and belong to the animal kingdom. Their number exceeds 350,000 species, among which there are both daytime and nocturnal representatives.
The order of Lepidoptera, which includes these amazing creatures, is divided into many suborders. The classification is based on the shape of the wings of these insects. For convenience, it is customary all over the world to write the names of butterflies in Latin.
general characteristics
During their development, these invertebrates go through four stages:
- Egg stage. During this period, an adult insect lays eggs of a round or oval shape, which are located one by one or in groups, depending on the species.
- The larval stage begins after the emergence of the caterpillar from the eggs. Since the main task of the insect at this stage was the accumulation of nutrients, all representatives have a well-developed jaw and excellent appetite. Both plant and animal organisms can be food for them. During this period, the size of the insect's organism sometimes increases even thousands of times. The larva passes several molts.
- The pupal stage begins after the larva has reached the required weight. Her body is covered with a thick shell, she stops feeding and moving. After this, metamorphosis occurs, the process of restructuring the body. As a result, an adult butterfly of extraordinary beauty is formed from a large voracious caterpillar.
- The stage of an adult insect is an imago. It starts from the moment the shell breaks through. It was in appearance at this stage that the names of butterflies were compiled. For example, the glass butterfly got its name from its transparent wings. The main function of the body at this stage is dispersal and reproduction. Most representatives have a sucking mouth apparatus (proboscis) and are able to actively move. They have two pairs of wings, which are covered with modified bristles - scales.
The rarest representatives
The butterflies of the world and their names are amazing, each insect is beautiful in its own way. Unfortunately, in recent years, the number of many species has been decreasing, and they require protection. A list of endangered species can be found in It indicates the name of the butterflies in alphabetical order, a description of the habitat of each species and their approximate number.
Due to the deterioration of the ecological situation on the planet, such species have become rare:
- Common Apollo (Parnassius apollo). Its poor flight ability led to the extinction of this representative, which made it an easy prey for predators. The species is very sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and feeds only in sunlight.
- Mnemosyne (Parnassius mnemosyne). Their black color became the reason for the appearance of the second name for butterflies - Black Apollo. The reason for the decline in numbers is poor flight ability, catching, and a decrease in the food supply and habitat.
- European Brahmaea (Brahmaea europaea). Today it is under protection, the cause of extinction is a small, limited habitat.
Record butterflies
Giant butterflies deserve no less attention:
- Tizania agrippina is the largest representative of the Lepidoptera order. It is nocturnal and eats. Inhabits Mexico and South America. Both pairs of wings are wavy at the edges, ranging in color from white to dark brown.
- Coscinoscere Hercules is the largest butterfly in the world that leads a nightlife. The size of the female insect can reach 28 cm. These representatives are found in Australia and New Guinea. Not only the imago, but also the caterpillar has large dimensions. Its length is 16-18 cm.
But even those insects that do not grow to large sizes are striking in their beauty. The names of the smallest butterflies should be considered:
- Acetosia is found in the UK. Its wingspan and body length are only 2 mm. And even with such dimensions, it attracts attention with its bright color in blue shades. During its short life, which is about 10 days, this butterfly manages to give two generations of offspring. All representatives feed on nectar or pollen from flowers.
- Rediculosis is found in the Canary Islands.
- Fireflies. Their wingspan is from 1 to 5 cm. And the shape of the wings and colors are very diverse.
The meaning of butterflies
Like all animals on the planet, butterflies have both positive and negative meanings. Most species benefit from pollinating plants. Those representatives that feed on weeds are used as a biological way to control them. At the same time, insects can harm agriculture by eating crops in the fields.
Many connoisseurs of the beauty of these insects create collections, each of them has plates on which there is the name of the butterflies and their description. These meetings are used not only as souvenirs, but also for scientific purposes.
This year, in the very heat, at the very height of summer, an incredible number of butterflies, usually not very common, and even some time ago were in the red book, appeared. Velvety-dark to black, with a bright orange-red stripe on the wing and white spots, they circle with the same large peacock's eye over meadow flowers. It was thanks to this red stripe, reminiscent of stripes, that the butterfly was named admiral(lat. Vanessa atalanta). They flutter over the meadow flowers, sit down to drink nectar, but will gladly taste the bursting fruit or the juice flowing out on the wounds of the trees. When a butterfly sits on a flower, spreading its wings, it stands out as a bright spot on the green carpet of grass. But as soon as she folds her wings, sitting on a tree, thanks to the gray pattern, she completely merges with the bark. The Latin specific epithet for the butterfly Atalanta is taken from Greek mythology, where Atalanta, the heroine of the Calydonian boar hunt, ran faster than all people on Earth. Indeed, butterfly admiral in many parts of its range, it makes huge, many thousand kilometers flights, for example, from Europe to North Africa.
Admiral(lat. Vanessa atalanta) is a diurnal butterfly from the Nymphalidae family. The wingspan reaches 5 - 6.5 cm. The color of the wings is dark brown, sometimes almost black, with bright red stripes and white spots at the apex of the fore wings. A widespread numerous species, the range of which covers extratropical Eurasia, North Africa, the Atlantic Islands, North America, Guatemala, Haiti and New Zealand. Caterpillars feed mainly on nettles and thistles. The species is an active migrant.
The specific epithet Atalanta (Greek mythology) goes back to Atalanta, the heroine of the Calydonian boar hunt, who ran faster than all people on Earth. Daughter of the king of Arcadia Iasius (Ias) and Klymene. Her father, wanting to have only sons, threw the girl out on Mount Parthenius, and she was nursed by a bear until Atalanta was picked up by hunters in the forest. There are several versions regarding the origin of the generic name Vanessa. According to one of them, it comes from the female name of the same name. According to another version, the name is consonant with the ancient Greek version of the word "Phanessa", which means a demiurge deity. This version is most likely unlikely. In fact, the name of the deity in the original sounds like "Phanes" (Russian version of Fanet). The name of the genus was given by the Danish entomologist Johann Christian Fabrice, who mainly used the names of ancient deities when naming new taxa. The English name of the insect Red Admiral (red admiral) accurately characterizes the unique color of the butterfly.
Fore wing length 26 - 34.5 mm. The wingspan reaches 50 - 65 mm. The body is dark brown or black. The upper side of the wings is blackish or dark brown. At the apex of the fore wing, a small tooth is distinguished along the outer edge. The forewings are crossed by a bright orange-red band, above which a large elongated white spot and a chain of five to six spots of various sizes with a bright white color stand out. An elongated blue spot in a black rim is located in the anal corner of the hind wing. On the outer edge of the hind wings, there is a wide orange-red marginal band, on which 4-5 black spots are located. In the posterior corner of the hind wing, there is a double blue speck in the dark rim in the anal corner of the wing.
The underside of the wings is less bright, but more variegated. It is brownish brown with a variety of reddish and white spots and gray streaks. On the bottom of the front wings, the pattern of the upper side is repeated, which is complemented by blue rings in the central cell. The underside of the hindwings is brownish, with an intricate marbled pattern formed by dark streaks and sinuous lines. There is also a light spot at the anterior edge of the hind wing.
Antennae with sharply widened club. The eyes are covered with numerous small bristles. The outer margin of both wings is wavy, with one more prominent projection on the M1 vein on the forewings. A discal vein is present on both wings. The center cell on the rear fenders is closed. Outer edge of hind wing without noticeable projections. The tibiae and tarsi of the forelegs are covered with relatively long, dense hairs.
This butterfly is not only good-looking, but also a great travel lover. Representatives of this species of insects make huge flights from Europe to North Africa in order to lay eggs here and die in the name of the appearance of new offspring. In the spring, already young butterflies go back, despite the fact that many of them are destined to die on the way. However, butterflies living in the southern part of Europe are in no hurry to leave their native places, but wait out the winter in crevices of trees or under the bark. The spring sun makes the butterfly leave its shelter and start preparing for a romantic meeting in order to have time to have offspring.
How long does the admiral butterfly live? In favorable conditions, it is a long-liver - the insect lives for 9-10 months. For part of the allotted period, it remains in hibernation, it is the presence of diapause that explains its long existence. The fertilized female hibernates in order to lay eggs the next year after awakening. In the North and in the Center of Europe, admirals do not stay in the cold season. They go on a seasonal migration south. It is less noticeable than in summer, when a large number of adults settle in gardens and parks rich in food.
Migrants that appear in summer produce offspring on native plants. Young butterflies fly in July-August. They are not shy; if handled carefully, they can sit on their clothes or hand. It is easy to distinguish between arrived and local admirals by the condition of the wings - the travelers have them shabby and faded. During the wintering period, moths look for a reliable refuge, where they can hide not only from the cold, but also from enemies. Females hide under the bark of trees, fallen leaves, clog in cracks. During sleep, they risk being eaten by birds or rodents.
General warming of the climate and mild winters led to a change in the behavior of the admiral's butterfly. Not all individuals go to wait out the cold season in hot Africa. Some remain in temperate latitudes. This decision is fully justified, because many insects die while covering distances of thousands of kilometers.
An adult admiral butterfly feeds on nectar, tree juices, fruits and berries. Like all of its relatives, this butterfly goes through several stages of its development. Therefore, the nutrition of the caterpillar hatched from the egg differs significantly from the formed individual. The caterpillar wraps a leaf of hop or nettle around its body, defending itself and at the same time using these leaves as food. The satiated caterpillar gradually turns into a pupa, from which, after a certain period, an adult beauty butterfly flies out.
The forage plants for the admiral's caterpillars include: Carduus sp. - plants from the genus Thistle, Humulus lupulus - Common hops, Urtica dioica - Stinging nettle, Urtica urens - Stinging nettle.
The female butterfly lays one egg on food plants. The mating season for the insect is in the spring. From May to August, a caterpillar develops, the color is noticeable, on the sides there are yellow stripes, various blotches and thorns. They roll up into a tube on the leaves of nettle, thistle, turning into a pupa. The caterpillar makes a protective canopy of leaves, which it then feeds on. The butterfly emerges from the pupae by the end of summer. Two generations of butterflies are usually hatched per year.
Courtship and mating games are characteristic of admirals. During the breeding season, males exhibit territorial behavior. They occupy good areas where the fodder plant grows and drive away competitors. Each has an area of 10 by 20 m. Moths patrol their own area, flying around the perimeter. Admirals often circle over the hills to spot and intercept a flying female. The male flies for a partner for a long time, seeking her favor. Mating takes place for several hours. During this period, insects do not respond to external factors and are in a vulnerable position. Territorial males, aggressively chasing rivals of their own species and other butterflies from their area, demonstrate peaceful behavior while feeding on flowers or fruits.
The species is subject to dynamic fluctuations in numbers and in some years is observed in very large numbers. He is an active migrant. Populations in the forest belt of Eurasia are partially, and in the north of the range entirely, replenished by migratory individuals from the south. The species is included in the Red Data Book of the Smolensk Region; earlier it was included in the Red Data Book of Russia (1997) (category 4). At the moment, the species is excluded from the Red Book of Russia.
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