23.06.2020
Order Lepidoptera interesting facts. Interesting facts about butterflies (15 photos). Brazilian Butterfly Calligo
Since time immemorial, butterflies have been associated with spring, beauty, and eternity. They were a symbol of immortality, happiness, fidelity, love, and some newlyweds in modern time release butterflies at the wedding instead of doves. These mysterious and undeniably beautiful creatures are the source poetic inspiration and became the heroes of many myths and legends.
1. Butterflies belong to one of the largest groups of insects - Lepidoptera. In addition to these creatures, this group also includes moths and moths. On this moment Lepidoptera have about 157,000 species of insects.
2. These unique creations are the second largest pollinators after bees.
3. The science that studies butterflies is called lepidopterology.
4. The largest nocturnal butterfly thought to be Attacus aitas. Its wingspan is about 30 cm and it is often confused with a bird.
5. Most hardy butterfly world is called "Monarch". She can cover a distance of a thousand kilometers without stopping.
6. Max Speed The speed this little creature can reach is 12 miles per hour, but there are species that go as high as 50 km/h (31 mph).
7. Most amazing fact about these creatures is that butterflies need the warmth of the sun in order to fly.
8. 4 butterfly wings are covered with scales, which are sacs with transparent ribbed walls. After careless touch they fall off and the wings look faded. In fact, butterfly wings are transparent. The scales that cover the wing simply reflect sunlight and thereby give themselves color. IN rare cases butterfly scales are present in very small quantities or are completely absent.
9. The life cycle of these creatures consists of four phases: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult (butterfly).
The eggs may have various forms: from spherical and round to cylindrical and angular. It depends on the type of butterfly.
10. An interesting fact: a butterfly lays its offspring in one place for many years in a row.
11. Butterflies never sleep.
12. In some Asian and South American countries, butterflies are considered a delicacy!
13. The most complex organ of these amazing creatures- eyes. They are made up of 6,000 tiny pieces called lenses.
14. The only continent where Lepidoptera do not live is Antarctica.
15. Butterflies are ancient creatures. Their images are present on Egyptian frescoes, which are more than 3.5 thousand years old.
16. Taste buds in butterflies are on the paws, i.e. standing on the plant, they can taste it.
17. Butterflies are one of the most common collectibles among famous people world, such as: Nabokov, Rothschild, Bulgakov, Mavrodi.
18. The period in which the butterfly lays eggs lasts only a few days, but one individual can lay more than a thousand eggs.
19. Basically, all caterpillars live on land, but there is also a species of water caterpillars called broad-winged moths.
20. Basically, most butterflies have short life– just a few days. However, there are specimens with a rather long life cycle: the Brixton butterfly is a long-liver, its cycle lasts up to 10 months.
21. There is more than one species of these insects in the world, which can rightfully be considered the rarest. One of them is the sailing ship of Queen Alexandra - largest butterfly planets. It can only be found on the territory papua new guinea and thanks to collectors, this species is on the verge of extinction.
22. Many butterflies have earned a place in the Red Book only because of their incredibly beautiful coloration, moreover, some of these creatures are pests for crops.
23. There are several types of these beautiful creatures, which for the entire cycle of imago ( last stage life) do not eat at all. Such individuals live due to the energy accumulated during the period when the butterfly was still a caterpillar.
24. In Russian, the word "butterfly" is derived from the word "woman", since our ancestors believed that all witches become butterflies after death.
25. The smallest butterfly in the world is considered to be the Blue Dwarf, whose wingspan is only 1.4 cm.
26. In tropical forests There is a species of butterflies of the New and Old Worlds, the males of which feed on the tears of animals.
27. Butterflies are myopic!
28. These creatures can even distinguish colors, however, not all of them. Each species sees some of its shades. So, for example, cabbage sees red, but satire does not distinguish it at all.
29. The richest in the diversity of Lepidoptera species are Peru and one Indian state- Sikkim.
30. It turns out that the secret of a butterfly is hidden precisely in its scales on the wings. They support temperature balance, as well as increase flight performance.
31. Butterfly proboscis is a modified lower jaw, which is converted to sucking organ. But the butterfly caterpillar has quite strong jaws, thanks to which she can chew solid food.
32. The most common butterfly in Russia and Siberia is the Peacock eye. Due to its original pattern, it is difficult to confuse it with any other: the upper part of the wing has a cherry-brown color and a spot in the form of an eye, which is characteristic of this species, while the bottom is completely black-brown.
33. Butterflies are twilight creatures. Only some members of this group of insects are diurnal. Butterflies feed on nectar and other plant secretions containing sugar.
These creatures of incredible beauty at all times amaze people with their incredible variety of colors, bizarre shapes and intricate patterns. Butterflies are born in order to die, giving life to a new generation before that.
Egg laying and hatched caterpillars.
Butterflies are representatives of the order Lepidoptera of the class Insects of the Arthropod type.
Butterflies as arthropods
As representatives of this type butterflies have:
- segmented body;
- paired jointed limbs;
- chitin cover.
A cover of chitin protects their body and serves as a support for the organs. A segmented body and legs allow you to move with such cover.
Butterflies like insects
Insects differ from other arthropods in the following ways:
- the body consists of 3 sections (head, chest, abdomen);
- have three pairs of legs;
- have two pairs of wings.
On the head of butterflies are antennae - the organs of smell, compound eyes, palps - the organs of touch.
The chest consists of three large segments, each of them has a pair of legs, and the first and second have a pair of wings.
The abdomen is also made up of segments, and on each of them there are a pair of respiratory openings - spiracles.
Butterflies like Lepidoptera
This special detachment insects, which includes more than 150 thousand species. They differ from other insects in a number of distinctive features:
- They have two pairs of large wings covered with scales. It is the scales that provide a variety of colors of these insects.
- Butterflies feed on liquid food, mainly nectar. Therefore, they have a sucking oral apparatus in the form of a proboscis.
- Their development from complete transformation: egg - larva - pupa - adult.
- Butterfly larvae are caterpillars
- Caterpillars have gnawing mouthparts and no wings.
Butterflies are diurnal (swallowtail, admiral, urticaria) and nocturnal (hawk moth, bear). They differ in physique - daytime ones are more slender; type of antennae: in daytime they are club-shaped, in nighttime they are pinnate; wings folding: diurnal ones fold them in a vertical position, and night ones - in a horizontal position.
The largest wings in a span of up to 30 cm are possessed by tropical butterflies of the birdwing Alexandra and the peacock-eye Atlas, which night image life is called the King of Darkness.
IN South America there is a small butterfly, which is called the glass one. The middle of her wings is absolutely transparent.
One of the smallest diurnal butterflies is our compatriot, the pigeon Icarus. Her wings are no more than 1 cm.
Butterflies belong to the species Lepidoptera. Entomologists have already discovered more than 160,000 varieties, and this figure is growing every year. Their first images were found on Egyptian frescoes. This gives reason to assume that ancient origin. Scientists claim that insects similar to modern butterflies appeared 40 million years ago.
Body structure and dimensions
Butterflies have an exoskeleton that provides the right level of water inside the body. They feel the taste of the plant with their paws, since it is there that the receptors are concentrated. 4 wings are covered with scales that reflect sunlight, which gives an incomparable color. Such patterns help to disguise themselves from predators, such as birds.
Butterfly eyes are made up of 6,000 tiny lenses. At the same time, they are short-sighted and are able to distinguish only shades of red, yellow and green. They still do not hear, but they pick up vibrations. The male Imperial Moth smells the scent of the female at a distance of more than 10 km in any weather. And only the Dead Head hawk hawk has an organ of speech. In a situation of fear and danger, this butterfly begins to squeak.
The most big butterfly- Prince of Darkness, at night it can be confused with a bird. The smallest is Radiculosis with a wingspan of 2 mm.
How fast do they fly?
To fly, butterflies need the warmth of the sun. Surprisingly, such miniature creatures weighing as much as a rose petal reach a speed of 20 km / h. There are also such species that develop speeds of more than 60 km / h. The most enduring is the Monarch butterfly, which flies thousands of kilometers non-stop.
Habitat and food
They are seen everywhere except Antarctica. Apart from tropical butterflies, there are arctic species that live in northern Canada. Butterflies feed on liquids, the juice of fruits and plants. Some tropical species drink the tears of animals.
Lifespan and offspring
They live only a few days. Only the Brixton butterfly is recognized as a long-liver with a period of up to 10 months. One butterfly lays offspring exceeding 1000 eggs.
Attitude towards butterflies in different countries
IN Ancient Rome they were sung, calling them "flowers plucked by the wind." In Japan, they symbolize everything bright and pure, so at a wedding celebration, the Japanese give paper butterflies to the newlyweds. In the US, a fine of $500 has been approved for bullying and tormenting these insects. There are clinics in Sweden where anti-stress therapies are carried out in greenhouses with butterflies. It is known that the Buddha addressed a sermon to a butterfly, which is still very revered by Buddhists.
Brief information about butterflies.
Recently, my granddaughter and I did the “Butterfly” craft from plasticine, which you can see. And today we will try to tell the children about butterflies in more detail.
The most beautiful, most elegant, most beloved insects are butterflies. As soon as the sun warms and the flowers bloom, they begin to flutter from flower to flower and immediately catch our eye. Children enjoy watching them. They excite them. In many fairy tales, good fairies are depicted, elves with wings like butterflies. They are a symbol of kindness, purity and light.
Previously, people believed that butterflies were descended from plants that had come off.
How can you tell children about butterflies?
The appearance of butterflies.
Consider the structure of a butterfly with the children. The butterfly has a head, body, wings covered with scales. The scales refract light, shimmering like a rainbow, forming a beautiful pattern. Tell your child that butterflies should not be caught or touched by the wings. You can remove the paint. In fact, butterfly wings are transparent, like those of a bee or a fly. And scales give color. Therefore, they are called Lepidoptera. Coloring is very different. We see it both in nature and in pictures. Sometimes the coloration is protective.
The butterfly has antennae and a coiled proboscis. When a butterfly lands on a flower, it unfolds its proboscis, puts it inside the flower and drinks the nectar. If a butterfly flies from flower to flower, it will carry pollen and the pollinated plants will have more seeds.
Butterfly life cycle.
Butterflies are insects with complete metamorphosis. Life cycle consists of 4 stages. Egg-larva (caterpillar) - pupa and adult butterfly.
Butterflies lay eggs, which then hatch into caterpillars. They are unattractive, actively eat the leaves of plants, grow rapidly. This causes damage to plants. There are caterpillars miscellaneous flowers, coloring, some smooth, others with hairs. When the caterpillar phase ends, it turns into a chrysalis. The pupa is usually brown and immobile. The pupal stage lasts from several days to several years. And then the chrysalis bursts and a butterfly emerges from it. She first sits and dries her wings. And then it starts to fly. This is the transformation of a butterfly.
Children often see caterpillars, they are unpleasant.
Riddles about caterpillars.
Tell the children riddles about caterpillars. You can make crafts so that the guys remember better how such beautiful butterflies are made from a caterpillar.
crawling on the grass,
Hanging in a cocoon
But the time will come
And fly into the sky.
(caterpillar and butterfly)
Butterfly's daughter
All in small bright dots,
crawling slowly
Leaves gnaw.
(Caterpillar)
Where the leaf beetle crawled,
The trace disappeared from the sheet.
(Caterpillar )
Julia made this application-life cycle of a butterfly.
What are butterflies.
Butterflies are very different. To tell children about the variety of butterflies, you can look at books, encyclopedias, and if possible, go to a museum where there are butterflies.
The most common butterfly is the urticaria. Beautiful, colorful, orange with black dots. It is called urticaria because its caterpillar can eat nettles.
Lemongrass is bright. yellow butterfly. It can often be confused with a leaf.
The cabbage white is a very common butterfly, white with black dots. Her caterpillars eat cabbage leaves. Look at the pictures that show various butterflies. Let the children remember them, and then on a walk they will try to guess what kind of butterfly flies. Yulia already recognizes some butterflies in nature.
More can be seen butterfly cartoon. Children love such bright cartoons.
Butterfly protection.
Don't forget to tell your kids to treat butterflies with care. You can't catch them, kill them. many butterflies are already listed in the Red Book. Of course, there are caterpillars and butterflies that are harmful agriculture. For example, cabbage caterpillars reduce yields of cabbage and apples. But a huge number of butterflies are either neutral or useful and must be protected. We, for example, use fabrics natural silk, from cocoons that caterpillars weave silkworm. Butterflies are important as pollinators. To control weeds, caterpillars are used, which feed on one type of weed. Butterflies must also be protected because they are very beautiful and adorn fields, meadows and forests.
Here is another Julia butterfly app.
Results:
1. Introduced children to appearance butterflies
2. Considered its life cycle
3. Riddles about caterpillars
4. Made an application.
5. Considered a variety of butterflies and watched a cartoon.
6. We talked about protecting butterflies.
This is how you can introduce our children to beautiful butterfly insects. You can also draw butterflies, decorate pictures. Invent games.
Write your comments. Now it's summer. Many rest, there is little time to visit. But anyway, I look forward to your feedback.
What else can you see:
Butterflies are probably the most beautiful insects. Butterflies have always been a symbol of love, beauty, purity and joy. It is impossible to imagine how these nondescript caterpillars appear lovely creation. Well, let's not get into the lyrics, but just look at the 15 most interesting facts about butterflies.
So, the most interesting facts about butterflies:
- Lepidopterology- a science that studies only butterflies.
- butterfly eye consists of more than 6000 parts, therefore it is a very complex organ, despite its diminutiveness.
- butterflies - very diverse and beautiful insects. Because of this, butterflies have become a collector's item. Moreover, butterflies are one of the most popular collectibles. The collection of butterflies of Vladimir Nabokov was as much as 4324 species! Moreover, he opened 20 of them himself. He later donated this collection to the Zoological Museum of the University of Lausanne.
- Majority butterflies have a very short lifespan- only a few days, but as usual there are exceptions: the life of the Brixton butterfly can be about 10 months.
- There are some types of butterflies that do not eat at all. That is, do not eat being butterflies. They live only off the food that accumulated in them when they were still caterpillars.
- Different butterfly species can eat different types food. some butterflies love to eat manure or rotten fruit, some love wool, some wax, and some even like to eat animal tears.
- There are cases when the caterpillar does not have time to turn into a butterfly in one summer, then it hibernates until the next summer.
- Butterflies do not have ears or other organs of hearing, but they can sense everything through vibrations.
- In many Asian countries love to eat butterflies, along with other insects.
- butterflies taste buds are on their feet so they trample on their food when they eat.
- In Rus', it was assumed that when a sorceress or witch dies, then her soul is transmigrated into a butterfly. It was this fact that gave the name to this insect, i.e. from the word "baba".
- Butterflies Calyptra eustrigata do not feed on nectar. They suck the blood of animals, digging in with a sharp proboscis, like mosquitoes.
Butterflies are wonderful creatures!
- Despite their short lifespan, Butterflies have time to lay about 1000 eggs.
- Butterflies never sleep.
- The smallest butterfly in the world is the blue dwarf. The wingspan is no more than 1.5 cm. And the largest butterfly in the world is the night Attacus altas. Its wingspan is as much as 30 cm, so it is often confused with a bird.
