What studies butterflies. Entomologist is a profession associated with the study of insects. How relevant is it? In fact, butterfly wings are transparent. The scales that cover the wing simply reflect sunlight and thus give themselves color. In the rarest

The science of butterflies is called lepidopterology. For my short life a female butterfly can lay over 1,000 eggs. Butterflies are insects with complete transformation or holometamorphosis. Their life cycle includes four phases: Egg; Larva (caterpillar); chrysalis; Adult insect (imago). Butterflies are insects with complete transformation, or holometamorphosis. Their life cycle includes four phases: Egg; Larva (caterpillar); chrysalis; Adult insect (imago). Atlas (A. atlas aurantica) - one of the "champions" in terms of wing area

The caterpillar has now become a chrysalis within a chrysalis, with its body parts smashed into a thick fluid that will feed the special, programmed cells that lie in the caterpillar. These cell clusters begin to form specialized body parts such as the new creature's wings, legs and eyes. This process continues for several days, weeks, and sometimes months, depending on the type of butterfly that will emerge. The final stage occurs when the adult butterfly finally pushes itself out of its chrysalis, not looking like a caterpillar.


Do butterflies have a heart? Yes, I have. Only not in the chest, but ... in the abdomen. And their blood is not red, but green. It does not contain hemoglobin, and it does not carry oxygen, as in humans, but delivers nutrients, various hormones and enzymes to all insect cells. The ability of butterflies to find "spouses" at a great distance is amazing. Night butterflies are especially famous for this: males of some species find a female several kilometers away! The wings of M. rethenor from the genus Morpho shine with iridescent colors Male peacock-eye (Eudia pavonia) has an exceptional sense of smell

When a butterfly breaks through a soft shell, its wings are wet and crumpled, and it must rest while it expands its wings and pumps them with blood. The continued clapping makes them strong, and soon the adult is ready to fly off and start this cycle again, looking for a mate.

Each adult butterfly is covered in millions of tiny scales that help control body temperature. They can also help him avoid being captured by a predator, as they wear off easily. It is these scales that give, but their terms Beautiful colors. The body of a butterfly consists of three parts: the head, chest and belly. It has two long antennae on its head, which it uses as probes to touch and smell. They also have two large compound eyes, which means that each one is thousands of formed eyes.


Butterflies have become a hobby of many famous people. They were collected by Vladimir Nabokov, Mikhail Bulgakov, academician Ivan Pavlov, revolutionary Nikolai Bukharin, the famous financier Walter Rothschild. Among our contemporaries, Andrei Makarevich and the Mavrodi brothers, owners of one of the largest collections in Russia, paid attention to butterflies. Vladimir Nabokov discovered 20 species of butterflies and named them. And he donated his collection of 4324 copies to the Zoological Museum of the University of Lausanne. Butterflies have become a hobby of many famous people. They were collected by Vladimir Nabokov, Mikhail Bulgakov, academician Ivan Pavlov, revolutionary Nikolai Bukharin, the famous financier Walter Rothschild. Among our contemporaries, Andrei Makarevich and the Mavrodi brothers, owners of one of the largest collections in Russia, paid attention to butterflies. Vladimir Nabokov discovered 20 species of butterflies and named them. And he donated his collection of 4324 copies to the Zoological Museum of the University of Lausanne. Lilac moth (Naxa seriaria) is able to take off from the surface of the water

This allows the butterfly to see in all directions at the same time. They also have a long, hollow tube called a proboscis, which they use like a straw to drink an energy-rich, sugary liquid called nectar produced by flowering plants.

Butterfly's wings are the most important part as they allow it to move around food, shelter, helper and everything else it needs. Its wings are very strong, and they are supported and shaped by a network of veins, just like those in a leaf. Different species have wings different shapes that make every fly different. Those with large wings flap and make long glides, while those with broad wings flutter and flow or move in short bursts. long, thin wings fly faster, and those with short triangular wings can zigzag and fire quickly.


The Red Book serves as the scientific and directive basis for organizing the protection of rare and endangered species of butterflies. So, 70 species of Lepidoptera belonging to 14 families are included in the IUCN Red Book. The first Red Book of Russia, published in 1983, included 12 species of butterflies. Two years later, the Red Book of the USSR was published with a list of 105 species of Lepidoptera. In 1999, a new list of endangered animals of Russia was published, which included 33 species of butterflies. Queen Alexandra's Ornithoptera (Ornithoptera alexandrae). One of the rare species threatened with extinction. Despite restrictions on trade in this species, the unofficial value of a pair of butterflies among collectors can reach US dollars or more. Swallowtail

The famous monarch butterfly flies to Mexico from North America before the autumn chill arrives. Some scientists believe they find their way using the Sun's position as a compass, while others believe they are able to detect changes in light waves that filter through clouds.

Butterfly wings are covered with scales, which are sacs with transparent ribbed walls. After a careless touch, they fall off, and the wings look faded.

It is said that the ancient Greeks believed that when people die, their souls leave their bodies in the shape of a butterfly. Their soul symbol was a young girl named Psyche who had butterfly wings. Today we know that true butterflies are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. More and more as their habitats are being destroyed and threatened by pollution, pesticides and other species human activity Butterflies are in danger. Some rare species may already be extinct.


butterflies national park"Yugyd va" The first Lepidoptera in the mountain-forest belt of the National Park "Yugyd va" can be found already at the end of May. These include urticaria, lemongrass, s-white antlers. There are mourning places, scoops of the serrated wing, less often - multicolors. In June, butterflies of a new generation appear. In the meadows, forest edges, carnivals from the pigeon family are plentiful. Under the crown of birches, potted whites flutter. A bright symbol of spring are butterflies-dawns or aurora with cheerful orange spots on wings visible from afar. Amicable companies of garden whites gather around the thawed places - rutabaga, cabbage, turnips. Butterfly-dawn

Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. The butterfly is often perceived as a type of fragile and ephemeral creature. Butterfly affects the effect of a very small change in the initial conditions of the system, which significantly affects the result; the term comes from the title of an article by American meteorologist Edward Lorenz, "Predictability: Did a Butterfly's Wing in Brazil Launch a Tornado in Texas?" floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee, a summary of Muhammad Ali's boxing strategy probably originated with his assistant, Drew "Bundini" Brown.

The proboscis of a butterfly is a modified lower jaw that has been transformed into a sucking organ. But the butterfly caterpillar has rather strong jaws, thanks to which it can chew solid food.

She feared her big day would be ruined by a butterfly or a plea fluttering into the church as she walked down the aisle. If this happened, she knew that within seconds she would be frozen in place, hyperventilate, and possibly faint.


In the park, cocoonworms are represented by four species: raspberry, fluffy, pine and hawthorn. During the day, large brown butterflies, the birch silkworm, fly over the crowns. This species is included in the list of rare and endangered insects of the Komi Republic. In June, the first moths appear. They got their name because of the way the caterpillars of this species move. Outwardly, this is similar to measuring distance with fingers (spans). The members of the family are diverse. The birch moth became a kind of indicator of clean air, thanks to which it became famous in the 19th century. It has been observed that the coloration of its wings becomes dark in industrial areas where tree trunks are covered with soot. Butterflies living in the birch forests of the national park are bright, and this may indicate the absence of air pollution in its territory. During this period of summer, you can meet large and very beautiful butterflies from the Saturnia family, or peacock-eye. Two species of them live in the national park: the red nocturnal peacock eye and the lesser nocturnal peacock eye.

Over two million Britons suffer from phobias and although they are often trivialized or ridiculed, they can dominate lives. Celebrities also suffer from them. Earlier this month, Kylie Minogue revealed her own bizarre phobia. The singer is terrified of coat hangers, she hates the sight and sound of them and has even designed a special wardrobe to show off her outfits.

In Tina's case, the 38-year-old was forced to have a wedding in the depths of winter when she knew the chances of meeting a moth or butterfly were slim. "People don't appreciate how a phobia can turn you off in so many ways," says Tina, a former television researcher from Croydon, south London, who is now a full-time mom to Toby, of two. I closed the windows in the summer and was afraid to leave the house.


In the evenings, various scoops fly, or bats - the most numerous representatives of Lepidoptera. in deciduous and mixed forests In the national park, five species from the corydalis family were found: large harpy, willow, zigzag, carmelite, silver hole. Caterpillars of a number of corydalis are distinguished by bright colors. Since July, various mother-of-pearls have been flying in the meadows: Selena, violet, Titania, small velvet. Less common are mother-of-pearl tavolzhanka, Aglaya, early checkers. Alpine mother-of-pearl (Tor) is a characteristic representative of the Ural fauna. Unusual in the polar regions is Laton's mother-of-pearl, Eugene's mother-of-pearl, which is listed in the Red Book of the Komi Republic. Its biology has not yet been studied. In the evenings, various scoops fly, or bats - the most numerous representatives of Lepidoptera. In the deciduous and mixed forests of the national park, five species from the corydalis family were found: large harpy, willow, zigzag, carmelite, silver hole. Caterpillars of a number of corydalis are distinguished by bright colors. Since July, various mother-of-pearls have been flying in the meadows: Selena, violet, Titania, small velvet. Less common are mother-of-pearl tavolzhanka, Aglaya, early checkers. Alpine mother-of-pearl (Tor) is a characteristic representative of the Ural fauna. Unusual in the polar regions is Laton's mother-of-pearl, Eugene's mother-of-pearl, which is listed in the Red Book of the Komi Republic. Its biology has not yet been studied. Perlamutrovka Evgeniya

These mysterious and undeniably beautiful creatures are a source of poetic inspiration and have become the heroes of many myths and legends.

We even held holidays in cold places where there was less chance of stumbling upon them. Her phobia began when she was a little girl without any apparent reason. “Nobody took it seriously then,” says Tina. "At school, some girls would put a dead butterfly in my locker."

A phobia is an intense fear that seems irrational to others and interferes with your life. We still don't know the exact causes, but they seem to be the result of a combination of genetics, environmental triggers, and learned behaviors. Now that it is being taken more seriously, there is more research to find new treatments, including one study in Japan to develop a drug that may be able to turn off the part of the brain involved in driving phobias.


Large white hawthorns often feed on meadow flowers. Numerous in the park are black marigolds: Ligea, Euryale, Embla. Unlike other butterflies, blackflies are not afraid of cloudy weather and often fly in drizzling rain. The Northern and Subpolar Urals is perhaps the last place where the number of swallowtail butterflies does not cause concern yet. This beautiful and large sailboat from the family of cavaliers has become rare in the territories developed by man. Swallowtail is recognizable - yellow with a bright pattern, consisting of a black border, and noticeable bluish spots. A magnificent decoration of the fauna of the national park is the admiral - velvety black on top, a red stripe on the front wings, the same border on the hind wings, the corners of the front wings in white spots. The smart admiral is a real celebrity. The butterfly became famous all over the world thanks to its fearless flights across the Atlantic. In the Subpolar Urals, this tireless traveler can be met regularly. There is a version that they successfully overwinter with us. Large white hawthorns often feed on meadow flowers. Numerous in the park are black marigolds: Ligea, Euryale, Embla. Unlike other butterflies, blackflies are not afraid of cloudy weather and often fly in drizzling rain. The Northern and Subpolar Urals is perhaps the last place where the number of swallowtail butterflies does not cause concern yet. This beautiful and large sailboat from the Cavalier family has become rare in the territories developed by man. Swallowtail is recognizable - yellow with a bright pattern, consisting of a black border, and noticeable bluish spots. A magnificent decoration of the fauna of the national park is the admiral - velvety black on top, a red stripe on the front wings, the same border on the hind wings, the corners of the front wings in white spots. The smart admiral is a real celebrity. The butterfly became famous all over the world thanks to its fearless flights across the Atlantic. In the Subpolar Urals, this tireless traveler can be met regularly. There is a version that they successfully overwinter with us. Nigella bandaged Admiral vulgaris Meadow jaundice

Once, when my neighbors were away, my boyfriend had to drive across London in the middle of the night to get moths out of my bedroom. When Tina and her husband of 10 years, David, 38, decided to start a family, she sought help again, this time trying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is the most proven treatment for phobias. “I couldn't have a baby and be afraid to go out into the garden or the park in the summer,” Tina explains.

At first, the therapist didn't even mention butterflies and butterflies, but talked about many other things. It was like a normal conversation, not a treatment. We went on to talk about what it was with butterflies and butterflies that I didn't like. Even the patterns on their wings scared me.


In late July - early August, one of the most beautiful butterflies of the national park, the sailfish feubus, flies in the meadows under the bald mountains. The sailboat Phoebus flies only in clear weather. Phoebe's caterpillars develop mainly on radiol pink. And if this plant, undergoing poaching, decreases in numbers, then this may cause a decrease in the number of this butterfly, listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Sailboat phoebus The fauna of lepidoptera is very peculiar in the north of the national park in the basin of the river Kozhim. Some Siberian species are numerous here: magna marigold, Angarsk mother-of-pearl. Black marble is very rare. It is customary to meet Norn marigold, Polixena, northern, Ross, Euryalus, Ligeya, Embla and some other species in tundra places. An interesting representative Urala is an Alaskan mother-of-pearl. Large forest mother-of-pearl

Since then, she was able to cope with insects and no longer planned her life around moths and butterflies. It is estimated that around one in 10 Britons will suffer from a phobia at some point in their lives. For unknown reasons, women are twice as likely to suffer from a phobia than men. The most common are spiders, snakes, heights, open spaces and social situations.

In rare cases, phobias are treated with drugs, but there are a number of alternatives, including hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and regression therapy. A recent study found that patients who were horrified by the dentist's workout were less anxious after acupuncture sessions. Earlier this year, Japanese scientists announced that phobias such as fear of spiders, snakes, flying and heights could be cured by injection. It is thought that since fear is a scientific habit, a hit can "turn off" the part of the brain that generates the emotion behind it.


There are very few diurnal butterflies in the high-mountain lichen tundras. Alpine whitefish (callidica) and marigold Melissa still live among the rocks. Alpine whitefish is not afraid of cold northern winds and rains. You can observe how even in stormy weather these butterflies continue to feed on the nectar of flowers. Lemon balm males have a pronounced territorial behavior. Usually the male sits, hiding on the stones, but when another male appears in the air, he abruptly takes off and rushes after him in pursuit. Marigold Melissa Belyanka alpine

The researchers were encouraged after tests on goldfish, whose brains resemble those of humans, showed that when they were given a dose of lidocaine, they "forgot" how to be frightened by flashing lights. The therapist may also teach the patient to control the phobia using deep breathing. This method is called expiratory or desensitization therapy and involves more and more exposure to dangerous situations.

Regression therapy focuses on how past experiences and conflicts have caused phobias. By studying them, therapists believe that sufferers can be released from the trigger that caused the phobia. Sam Cartwright-Hatton, a clinical psychologist at the University of Manchester, says: Phobias almost always develop in childhood. The vast majority do not experience any traumatic experiences.


The beautiful butterflies of the Urals can be conditionally used as indicators of the environment. Butterflies are sensitive to the slightest changes in nature and, thanks to their bright outfit, are excellent indicators of their state. environment. The richer our area is in various species of butterflies and the greater their number, the healthier natural environment. Swallowtail

Her research shows that some children tend to be fearful and more likely to "learn" a phobia, raising the fear of a parent or sibling. “Phobias are still not taken seriously by medical professionals, but they can become serious if left untreated,” adds Dr. Cartwright-Hatton.

"People will go into extraordinary moments to avoid what they fear." In her profession, she is known as a lepidopterist, a person who collects or studies butterflies or butterflies. And she is one of the courageous women who, without any remorse, into dangerous territory, pursues her passionate hobby - chasing and studying moths or night butterflies.


butterflies

The science of butterflies is called lepidopterology.

Since ancient times, butterflies have been associated with beauty and eternity. In ancient Greece, a butterfly was a symbol of the immortality of the soul, and in India it is a sign of fidelity and love, so lovers give it to each other at a wedding. IN South-East Asia there is a sign that says that a butterfly that has flown into the house is fortunate.

The equipment includes a light trap and white sheet, mercury lamp power of 165 watts. A sheet stretches between the trees and a lamp hangs above it. This attracts a large number of butterflies, allowing her to take notes and photographs. A pioneer among a handful of women in the field, Shubhalaksmi's passion has paid off beautifully - she has recorded 419 moth species in Maharashtra and 500 in Arunachal Pradesh in the past 10 years.

Recognized as India's first female lipidopterist studying the most elusive and shy and least studied insect in the Indian subcontinent, it's hard to imagine that Shubalaxmi had a phobia for any insect in her younger years. My mother also suffered from it, so it must have been inherited!

Butterflies taste food with their paws. After bees, they carry the most pollen.

The largest night butterfly in the world is Attacus altas. With a wingspan of over 30 cm, it is often mistaken for a bird.

Except tropical butterflies there are less well-known ones - for example, arctic ones, with whitish or transparent wings. Some species even live on the Canadian island of Queen Elizabeth, 750 km from the North Pole.

Most butterflies only live for a few days. The exception is the Monarch butterfly, which can live up to 6 months, in addition, it is able to fly 1000 km without stopping.

Butterflies never sleep and they don't have lungs.

Some butterflies, when attacked by predators, pretend to be dead, while others are able to reach speeds of up to 50 km / h.

Scientists believe that some butterfly larvae can communicate with ants using sounds.

Butterflies are not as peaceful as they seem. Often they fight for sunny plots of land.

Butterflies distinguish between red, green and yellow.

In China, South America and India, butterflies are eaten with pleasure.

There are clinics in Stockholm where patients are treated for stress in greenhouses with flowers and butterflies.

Butterflies are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful creatures nature. Multicolored, fragile and impetuous, they are able to revive the most dull landscape. Their fluttering tells us that the cold has finally ended, and nature has awakened to life again. In many countries, butterflies are considered symbols of romantic relationships.

In terms of biology, butterflies are one of the most common types of insects. They can be found almost everywhere, with the exception of the harsh Antarctica. Two species of butterflies are found even in Greenland. These creatures are familiar to everyone, but it's always good to learn something new, even about a well-known subject.

1. A lepidopterologist is not a doctor of some rare specialization, but a scientist who studies butterflies. The corresponding branch of entomology is called lepidopterology. The name is derived from the ancient Greek words "scales" and "wing" - according to the biological classification, butterflies are Lepidoptera.

2. Butterflies are one of the most diverse representatives of insects. About 160,000 of their species have already been described, and scientists believe that tens of thousands of species have not yet come across their eyes.

3. In England, at the end of the last century, a butterfly was found, whose age is estimated at 185 million years.

4. The size of butterflies in terms of wingspan varies over a very wide range - from 3.2 mm to 28 cm.

5. Most butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers. There are species that eat pollen, juices, including rotten fruits, and other decay products. There are several species that do not feed at all - for a short life, such butterflies have enough food accumulated when they were caterpillars. In Asia, there are butterflies that feed on the blood of animals.

6. Pollination of flowering plants is the main benefit that butterflies bring. But there are pests among them, and, as a rule, these are the species with the brightest color.

7. Despite the very complex structure of the eye (up to 27,000 components), butterflies are short-sighted, they do not distinguish colors and motionless objects.

8. Butterfly wings are transparent. The scales attached to them are colored, which improve the flight qualities of Lepidoptera.

9. Butterflies do not have hearing organs, but they are good at capturing surface and air vibrations with the help of antennae located on their heads. Butterflies smell with their antennae.

10. Butterfly mating involves flying dances and other forms of courtship. Females attract males with pheromones. The scent of a female Imperial moth can be smelled by males from several kilometers away. Mating itself can last several hours.

11. Butterflies lay a lot of eggs, but only a few of them survive. If everyone survived, there would be no place left on Earth for other creatures. The offspring of one cabbage lady would exceed the weight of all people three times.

12. In mid-latitudes, up to three life cycles of butterflies take place per year. IN tropical climate up to 10 generations appear per year.

13. Butterflies do not have a skeleton in the usual sense. The role of the support is performed by a rigid outer shell torso. At the same time, this exoskeleton does not allow the butterfly to lose moisture.

14. About 250 species of butterflies are migratory. The length of their migration route can be thousands of kilometers. At the same time, in some species, offspring bred in places of migration independently get to the places of permanent residence, from where their parents flew away. The mechanism of transmission of "traffic information" is still unknown to scientists.

15. Butterflies are widely known to mimic to escape predators. To do this, they use color (the notorious "eyes" on the wings) or smell. Less well known is that some butterflies have small hairs on their bodies and wings designed to absorb and scatter the ultrasound that bats emit in search of prey. And butterflies of the Ursa species can generate clicks that knock down the mouse “radar” signal.

16. In Japan, a pair of paper butterflies is a must for a wedding. In China, this insect is both considered a symbol of love and family happiness and enjoy eating.

17. Back in the 19th century, butterflies became popular collectibles. Now the world's largest collection of butterflies at the Thomas Witt Museum in Munich has more than 10 million butterflies. The largest collection in Russia is the collection of the Zoological Institute. The first butterflies in this collection appeared under Peter the Great (then it was the Kunstkamera), and today the collection has 6 million copies.

18. Famous butterfly collectors were Baron Walter Rothschild, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, writers Mikhail Bulgakov and Vladimir Nabokov.

19. If there are collectors, there must be a market for butterflies, but information about their sales is rather scarce. It is mentioned that in 2006 at one of the American auctions a butterfly was sold for 28 thousand dollars. Indirectly, the cost of butterflies can be indicated by the fact that dozens of people hunt for rare butterflies die every year in the jungles of North and Central America.

20. The late Korean leader Kim Il Sung received a painting composed of several million butterflies for one of his anniversaries. Despite the rather romantic manner of execution, the canvas was created by the military and was called "The Selfless Faith of a Soldier."

Butterflies are beautiful creatures. I think everyone knows what a butterfly looks like and probably met this terrible beast =)

These unique creations are the second largest pollinators after bees.

The science that studies butterflies is called lepidopterology. An entomologist who studies butterflies is called a lepidopterologist (from the Latin name for the order of butterflies - Lepidoptera, which translates as "lepidoptera"). A lepidopterist is a person who is simply fond of butterflies.

The largest night butterfly in the world - This is the peacock-eye Atlas (Attacus Atlas). Its wingspan is over 30 cm and it is often mistaken for a bird.

Basically, most butterflies have a short life - only a few days. However, there are instances with rather long life cycle: The Brixton butterfly is long-lived, its cycle lasts up to 10 months.

A female butterfly can lay over 1,000 eggs in her short life.

Butterflies literally work wonders. The species Parnassius arcticus lives in Siberia near the Arctic Circle. It flies to places where snow and ice never melt. Its close relative Parnassius bannyngtoni from the Himalayas is the highest mountain butterfly in the world. It can be found, rising even 6000 meters above sea level.

In the pigeon butterfly (Zizula hylax), which lives in Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Arabia and the tropical zone of Asia and Australia, the length of the front wing is 6 mm. This is the smallest butterfly in the world.

In addition to the tropical butterflies familiar to us, there are also arctic butterflies. They are inconspicuous in appearance, their wings are not bright, but whitish or almost transparent, as if glass. Several species of butterflies that live on the Canadian island of Queen Elizabeth, 750 kilometers from the North Pole, can be called real polar explorers.

The maximum speed this little creature can reach is 12 miles per hour, but there are species that reach the mark of 50 km/h (31 mph). The fastest flight of butterflies of the hawk family.

by the most amazing fact about these creatures is that butterflies need the warmth of the sun in order to fly.


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.

The life cycle of these creatures consists of four phases: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult (butterfly).

A butterfly lays its offspring in one place for many years in a row.

Butterflies never sleep.

The most complex organ of these amazing creatures- eyes. They are made up of 6,000 tiny pieces called lenses.

Butterflies are ancient creatures. Their images are present on Egyptian frescoes, which are more than 2.5 thousand years old.

Butterflies are one of the most common collectibles.


In the world there is more than one species of these insects, which can rightfully be considered the rarest. One of them is the sailing ship of Queen Alexandra - largest butterfly planets.

It is possible to find only on the territory papua new guinea and thanks to collectors, this species is on the verge of extinction.

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.

The Blue Dwarf is considered to be the smallest butterfly in the world, with a wingspan of only 1.4 cm.

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.


At brazilian butterflycalligo another way to protect. Seeing a bird, it turns over, showing the enemy the wrong side of its wings.

The enemy has no choice but to retreat hastily.

It's all about the pattern on the wings. This is an image of an owl with a sharp beak and big eyes.

Well, the owl worst enemy birds.

Female butterflies generally live longer and longer than male butterflies. Something like people ;-)

Butterflies are great stress relievers. The doctors of Stockholm are convinced of this. The clinics of this city have greenhouses with butterflies and flowers, where patients successfully undergo treatment for stress.

Butterflies are nearsighted!

It turns out that the secret of the butterfly is hidden precisely in its scales on the wings. They support temperature balance, as well as increase flight performance.

But with blood circulation, everything is simple. No heart, no veins and no arteries. All this is replaced by a vessel located in the abdomen, passing into the head in the form of a tube.

The pattern on the wings of a butterfly is unique, just like human fingerprints.

Only the Dead Head hawk moth (Acherontia atropos) has a special “speech” organ located in the pharynx. This butterfly, with anxiety or a sense of danger, can squeak.

Butterflies weigh about as much as two rose petals.

Butterfly migration



Among African butterflies, Catopsilia florella makes the longest migrations. Every year from December to February, its representatives, inhabiting the arid regions of the Sahel, fly south in tens of millions. Destination - Zaire - a few thousand kilometers from the start.

Unlike migratory species temperate latitudes migration is caused not by the onset of spring, but by the beginning of the rainy season in the south: at this time, many flowers will bloom there, which will provide food for the butterflies. They fly in whole clouds up to 20 long and up to 5 kilometers wide.

If such a flock descends to the ground, it is quite capable of turning off car engines! With the return of the dry season, the butterflies head back to the Sahel. Other populations of this species migrate in a similar way, but they fly out from southern Africa (Cape Province of South Africa) and head to the northwest.

Migratory behavior is uncommon in butterflies; it is known only in 200 out of 18,000 diurnal species, and only two dozen of them are comparable in extent and regularity of their flights to Catopsilia florella.

P.S. Interesting fact: During the winter in Southern California, tourists are shown butterfly trees covered in monarch butterflies resting after a long flight from North America. The branches of these trees sag under the weight of a huge number of butterflies! It is impossible to disturb the monarchs - an impressive fine is due for this.

The science of butterflies is called lepidopterology.

Since ancient times, butterflies have been associated with beauty and eternity. In ancient Greece, a butterfly was a symbol of the immortality of the soul, and in India it is a sign of fidelity and love, so lovers give it to each other at a wedding. In Southeast Asia, there is a sign that says that a butterfly that has flown into the house is fortunate.

Butterflies taste food with their paws. After bees, they carry the most pollen.

The largest night butterfly in the world is Attacus altas. With a wingspan of over 30 cm, it is often mistaken for a bird.

In addition to tropical butterflies, there are less well-known ones - for example, arctic ones, with whitish or transparent wings. Some species even live on the Canadian island of Queen Elizabeth, 750 km from the North Pole.

Most butterflies only live for a few days. The exception is the Monarch butterfly, which can live up to 6 months, in addition, it is able to fly 1000 km without stopping.

Butterflies never sleep and they don't have lungs.

Some butterflies, when attacked by predators, pretend to be dead, while others are able to reach speeds of up to 50 km / h.

Scientists believe that some butterfly larvae can communicate with ants using sounds.

Butterflies are not as peaceful as they seem. Often they fight for sunny plots of land.

Butterflies distinguish between red, green and yellow.

In China, South America and India, butterflies are eaten with pleasure.

There are clinics in Stockholm where patients are treated for stress in greenhouses with flowers and butterflies.

In the animal world

  • Dogs
    Of all the animals, dogs were tamed by man before anyone else. The first domestic dogs appeared about 10 thousand years ago.
  • To your pet was healthy and pleased you with his presence for as long as possible, provide your dog proper nutrition.
  • The newlyweds begin to live under one roof and lead a common life, but are not yet ready for the birth of children. The appearance of a four-legged friend in the house will help to overcome the fear of responsibility for the birth of a child.
  • The pet supply industry has a huge amount of cat food available today. industrial production. Are all the presented foods good for pets and, finally, which food is better for cats?
  • Starting a conversation about raising a puppy, I want to advise you first of all: be patient, patient and more patient. If you give in to the little cunning one at least once, he will remember for a long time that the owner can be moved to pity, begged, and, in the end, overstubborn.
  • Modern doctors note the role of animals in the home as a positive emotional factor.
  • A dog needs a master and his love to be happy. But what does he need for health? We will tell you how to give your friend first aid.
  • Before you start training a dog, study its character and habits. A dog must love its owner, trust him.
  • Domestication of the dog became one of the stages of "humanization of man", because it saved him from the animal instinct - to listen to the dangerous silence of the night, gave him the opportunity to sleep peacefully and even think.
  • The aquarium brings a lot of positive emotions into our life. Contemplation of this mini-reservoir and its inhabitants helps us to relax, restore peace of mind, distract from the hustle and bustle and tune in a philosophical way. If you would like to have a little piece underwater world at home - these tips are for you.
  • If you are going to travel with your four-legged friend, take care of a special document in advance - a veterinary passport.
  • So, you are tired of hearing every day: "Well, buy-and-and-those dog ..." It's decided! There will be a puppy in the house. But before you get a dog, give yourself a test of strength.
  • Seems to be cute fluffy animal should only call positive emotions. For this to be true, be patient.
  • So you've decided to start an aquarium. Commendable! Watching colorful fish gliding smoothly one after another is such a pleasure!
  • Near-water birds, herons and hammerheads, often sit on the heads of hippopotamuses and calmly engage in fishing, and if the fishing is not successful, they peck at parasites from their gigantic friends.
  • As scientists have found out, female butterflies choose those males that are younger and have not yet had contact with the opposite sex. The wings of such lucky ones glow in the ultraviolet rays much brighter than those of the old people.
  • Contrary to popular belief, camels do not have water in their humps, but fat, which helps lower body temperature and protects the animal from overheating. This fat is considered a delicacy in many countries.
  • parrots
    In the city of Darwin in Australia, parrots eat the nectar of a plant that causes them to become intoxicated, and fall right on the fly.
  • Wolves
    Wolves are pack animals. Each pack consists of several wolf families - a parent pair and a grown up young. All pack behavior is subject to strict discipline and a clear hierarchy.
  • frogs
    There are 555 species of real frogs in the world, and their closest relatives are representatives of the copepod frog family, of which about 230 species have survived in nature.
  • Penguins
    The penguin is the only bird that can swim but cannot fly. Penguins have a rare ability to stand upright due to the fact that their paws with leathery membranes are located at the very end of the body.
  • The Bears
    The largest bear that has ever lived on earth is the giant short-beaked bear. It was twice the size of modern bears. Scientists believe that he had very long legs, allowing him to hunt antelopes in the North American prairies.
  • owls
    Owls - predator birds They feed on mammals, other birds, insects and reptiles. In Africa and Asia, there are species that exclusively eat other birds.
  • Dolphins
    Dolphins swim in circles and always watch with one eye so that predators do not sneak up on them. After a certain period of time, they begin to swim in the opposite direction and observe with the other eye.
  • Fish
    From water pollution, the sex of the fish can change. Approximately one third of the fish in British territorial waters have changed sex due to pollution caused by sewers.
  • The bats
    Bats are one of the few animals that cannot be obese. They have such a fast metabolism that fruits and berries are digested in 20 minutes.
  • cats
    It has been proven that cats can distinguish colors, but at the same time they have color blindness, the same as in humans: red seems green to them, and vice versa.
  • slowness land turtles depends on the ambient temperature: at low temperatures, the movement of turtles slows down. The sex of individuals also depends on temperature: at low temperatures, males appear in the nest, at high temperatures, females.
  • Horses
    It is believed that the darker the color, the more enduring the horse. In the Russian cavalry, red horses were considered the most ardent, and black horses were considered the calmest. Gray horses are considered the most vulnerable. And horses with white or fair skin are softer and weaker than dark-skinned ones.
  • Chameleons
    The chameleon is able to change the color of the body and even its individual parts, depending on external stimuli - temperature, light, humidity, satiety, thirst, fear.
  • Monkey
    The smallest primate on Earth is considered to be pygmy marmoset. Its size ranges from 11 to 15 centimeters, excluding the tail, which can reach 22 centimeters in length.
  • Birds
    Turkeys can sense weather changes. Before bad weather, they begin to pluck themselves and straighten their feathers. The black swift can stay in the air for 2-4 years. During this time, he drinks, eats and even sleeps on the fly.
  • parrots
    Kea are carnivorous parrots that prey on sheep. Despite the fact that Steve Irwin worked with dangerous animals like crocodiles and snakes, he was terribly afraid of parrots.
  • Jellyfish
    In Japan, jellyfish are bred in aquariums, as they believe that their smooth and unhurried movements help fight stress. Recently, the Japanese have even invented jellyfish robots that, at the request of the owner, can “dance” to the music.
  • All about frogs
    Cocoi frogs living in the jungle South America and Colombia, have been recognized as one of the most poisonous land animals on our planet. The poison of this frog is thousands of times stronger than potassium cyanide and 35 times stronger than poison Central Asian cobra.
  • shellfish
    The starfish can feed without swallowing food. For example, when she meets a mollusk, she wraps her arms around it and turns the lower stomach inside out. It penetrates the shell, envelops the soft parts of the mollusk and digests it, and then the star simply draws the contents into itself.
  • Kangaroo
    A kangaroo can produce four types of milk, depending on the age of the kangaroo, each type in its own nipple. In addition, a mother kangaroo can have two types of milk at the same time if she has cubs of different ages.
  • The black swift can stay in the air without landing for 2-4 years: it drinks, eats and sleeps on the fly. Young swifts, having risen into the air for the first time, fly about 500 thousand kilometers.
  • koalas
    Translated from the language of one of the Australian tribes, "koala" means "do not drink." Koalas almost never drink water: they get all the moisture they need from eucalyptus leaves - their only food.
  • The most unusual animals
    The star-nosed mole is more reminiscent of a space alien, since it has a stigma in the form of 22 bare moving tentacles.
  • hedgehogs
    The spines and curling up into a ball are the hedgehogs' natural defenses against predators. However, she does not always help them. Some animals have learned to unroll this ball, and the fox, for example, rolls the hedgehog into the water so that it turns around.
  • All about sharks.
    Some divers have a pastime - swimming among the sharks, which is safe when a person manages to lull the shark by stroking its head and turning over on its back.
  • fauna sounds
    House flies have good hearing. They all buzz in the key of F major. However, they only live for 14 days.
  • Fun Facts About Animals
    In Death Valley, the driest and hottest place on the globe, lives over 15 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, 44 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians, 13 species of fish and 545 species of plants.
  • Fun Facts About Animals
    If bat heard her own scream unreflected, she would have gone deaf. Therefore, before emitting a cry, the mouse emits a squeak, which causes the muscles of the hearing aid to tense up, and it perceives its loud cry already normally.
  • Ticks
    Ticks are the second largest group of animals on our planet after insects, there are about a million species of them. Ticks, unlike insects, have no head, no chest, no abdomen, no wings, and all parts of the body are fused together, and the legs are not 6, but 8.
  • hippology
    Among the horses that belonged to historical figures, Bucephalus is the most famous. Bucephalus allowed only Alexander the Great to sit on himself. He lived for 30 years and fell from stress after the battle of the Hydaspes. Alexander built a mausoleum for his horse.
  • Misconceptions about animals
    While at the zoo, many are afraid to approach a camel, thinking that these animals spit when they don't like something. However, in a camel, everything is “arranged” in such a way as to conserve moisture, and he will not waste it in vain. If the camel is angry, he does not spit, but kicks and bites.
  • All about fish
    In total, there are 20,000 species of fish on Earth - this is about 50% of all modern vertebrates.
  • Monkey
    The behavior of the male of some species of loris is quite interesting: he takes the cubs from the mother and wears them on himself, giving them away only for the time of feeding.
  • amazing animals
    The newt, when meeting a female, stands on its head and makes sharp waves with its tail to arouse its location, and the beckoning crab cordially waves its giant right claw.
  • All about crocodiles
    If a crocodile crept up to a giraffe at a watering place and grabbed its muzzle, then the giraffe throws up its head and, like a crane, lifts the unfortunate predator above the water.
  • These amazing animals
    The needles of the hedgehog are not only a defense against predators, they are also a kind of shock absorber: a fall from the second floor is not dangerous for this mammal.
  • header
    In nature, there are about 3 thousand species of cockroaches; their larvae develop from several months (prusak) to 4 years (black cockroach).
  • Animals at war
    Even during the First World War American physicist Robert Wood suggested using the fine hearing of seals to detect submarines.

These mysterious and undeniably beautiful creatures are a source of poetic inspiration and have become 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. At the moment, Lepidoptera have about 157,000 species of insects.

2. These unique creatures are the second largest pollinators after bees.

3. The science that studies butterflies is called lepidopterology.

4. The largest night butterfly is Attacus aitas. Its wingspan is about 30 cm and it is often confused with a bird.



5. The most enduring butterfly in the world has the name "Monarch". She can cover a distance of a thousand kilometers without stopping.

6. The maximum speed that this little creature can reach is 12 miles per hour, but there are species that reach the mark of 50 km / h (31 miles per hour).

7. The 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 a careless touch, they fall off me, and the wings look faded.


In fact, butterfly wings are transparent. The scales that cover the wing simply reflect sunlight and thus give themselves color. In the rarest cases, scales in a butterfly 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 imago (butterfly).

Eggs can have various shapes: 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 is the 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 objects for collecting among the most famous people in the 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 a short life - only 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 sailboat of Queen Alexandra - the largest butterfly on the planet.

It is possible to find it only on the territory of Papua New Guinea and thanks to collectors, this species is on the verge of complete extinction.


22. Many butterflies have earned a place in the Red Book only because of their incredibly beautiful color, and some of these creatures are pests for crops.

23. There are several species of these beautiful creatures that do not eat at all during the entire imago cycle (the last stage of life). 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 Blue Dwarf is rightfully considered the smallest butterfly in the world, with a wingspan of only 1.4 cm.


26. In the tropical forests of the New and Old Worlds, there is a species of butterflies whose males 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. Peru and one Indian state, Sikkim, are considered the richest in the diversity of Lepidoptera species.

30. It turns out that the secret of the butterfly is hidden precisely in its scales on the wings. They maintain the temperature balance, and also increase the airworthiness.


31. The proboscis of a butterfly is a modified lower jaw that has been transformed into a sucking organ. But the butterfly caterpillar has rather strong jaws, thanks to which it 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.



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