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

These unique creations They are the second most numerous pollinators after bees.

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

The largest moth in the world - This is the Atlas peacock eye (Attacus Atlas). Its wingspan is more than 30 cm, and it is often mistaken for a bird.

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.

During her short life, a female butterfly can lay more than 1000 eggs

Butterflies literally work wonders. The species Parnassius arcticus lives in Siberia near the Arctic Circle. It reaches 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 even at 6,000 meters above sea level.

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

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

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

The most amazing fact about these creatures is that butterflies need solar heat in order to fly.

The most common butterfly in Russia and Siberia is the Peacock's eye. Thanks 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 an eye-shaped spot characteristic of this species, while the lower part is completely black-brown.

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

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

Butterflies never sleep.

The most complex organ of these amazing creatures is the eyes. They are made up of 6,000 tiny parts 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.

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

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

There are several species of these beautiful creatures that, during the entire adult cycle ( last stage life) do not eat at all. Such individuals live off the energy accumulated during the period when the butterfly was still a caterpillar.

The smallest butterfly in the world is rightfully considered the “Blue Dwarf”, whose wingspan is only 1.4 cm.

IN tropical forests There is a species of butterfly in the New and Old Worlds, the males of which feed on animal tears.

U Brazilian butterflycalligo another way of protection. Seeing the bird, it turns over, showing the enemy the underside of its wings.

The enemy has no choice but to hastily retreat.

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

Well, and the owl - worst enemy birds.

Female butterflies usually live longer and longer than male butterflies. It's a bit like people ;-)

Butterflies are excellent stress relievers. Doctors in Stockholm are convinced of this. Clinics in 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 its wings. They support temperature balance, and also increase airworthiness.

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

The pattern on a butterfly's wings is unique, just like a person's fingerprints.

Only the Death's Head Hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos) has a special “speech” organ located in the pharynx. This butterfly can squeak when alarmed or feeling danger.

Butterflies weigh about the same as two rose petals.

Butterfly migration

Among African butterflies, the species Catopsilia florella makes the longest migrations. Every year, from December to February, its representatives, inhabiting the arid regions of the Sahel, fly south in the tens of millions. The destination is Zaire, several 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 butterflies with food. They fly in whole clouds up to 20 kilometers 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, butterflies head back to the Sahel. Other populations of this species migrate in a similar way, but they fly from southern Africa (Cape Province of South Africa) and head to the northwest.

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

P.S. Interesting fact: In 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 bend under the weight of a huge number of butterflies! It is forbidden to disturb monarchs; this will result in a hefty fine.

What is lepidopterology?

What a difficult word! You'll break your tongue while you're speaking. This is the clever name for the science of butterflies. And scientists - specialists in butterflies - are called lepidopterologists.

Butterfly Science! Are they worth starting a whole science about them? But listen.

Scientists from all countries have been studying butterflies for a long time. Others give butterflies years, or even their whole lives.

And here’s what’s interesting: not only lepidopterologists are involved in them, but also people working in an area that seems very far from butterflies. Did you know that the famous chemist Butlerov and academician-physiologist Pavlov were lovers and collectors of butterflies?

Butterflies are studied in different ways: some sit in laboratories over microscopes, while others travel around the world in search of the desired species. They wander, exposing their lives to danger - after all, the real kingdom of butterflies is the wilds of Indonesia, the Amazon forests, and central Africa. But why do they still need to be studied?

According to the science of butterflies, among them there are many of our faithful friends who give us silk and comb, pollinate useful plants, reviving our gardens, fields, forests and mountains with their beautiful wings.

Among butterflies there are many of our sworn enemies, destroying our crops, destroying our gardens and vegetable gardens.

Do we need to know the lifestyle of our friends in order to help them? Necessary!

Do we need to know the habits of our enemies in order to successfully fight them? Necessary!

But that is not all!

A geographer scientist will look at another butterfly and say: “Now it’s clear to me.” These two islands once formed one whole: the same butterflies fly on them.

A climatologist will look and exclaim: “Here is another proof!” The Arctic is warming. Southern species butterflies are moving north.

The aircraft designer will look: - We need to create aircraft with flapping wings. Butterfly plane.

The artist will look and be delighted: - What a wonderful drawing! You should use it for coloring fabrics.

He'll see... but that's probably enough. You already understand that butterflies need to be studied.

And there are a lot of butterflies. Butterfly science says there are 130,000 of them. different types on our planet. And there are few lepidopterologists.

And so amateur butterfly collectors work to help them. People of all ages and occupations, schoolchildren and students devote their leisure time to a wonderful activity - collecting butterflies.

Here I am, I’ve been collecting butterflies for forty years. I have a large collection of butterflies: several thousand of them are placed in boxes with glass lids. Under each butterfly there is a label; The place and date of the insect's capture is written on it in small but clearly written form. This label is the butterfly's passport. This is what gives it scientific value.

Catching butterflies is a kind of sport. Where have I ever been with a net in my hands? And in the tundra of Siberia and in the desert Central Asia, both in the steppes and in the mountains. There were funny incidents with me, and there were also dangerous adventures.

When I am outside the city, every excursion for butterflies turns into an interesting, crowded expedition. Time flies... Some of the guys who helped me in fishing have already graduated from university and become real lepidopterists, there are also those who are still studying at school, but are already seriously preparing to enter the biology department to study the science of butterflies and study their numerous kingdom.

In conclusion, I will quote the words of zoologist-geneticist Sergei Sergeevich Chetverikov. He wrote to me a month before his death:

“How willingly I would go again now, despite my 78 years, to a new area, so that for the last time in my life I would at least once again experience that excitement that makes you choke when you first go fishing in a new unfamiliar area, promising the unseen and uncaught before the butterflies..."

I can fully confirm his words.

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 numbers 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.Attacus aitas is considered the largest nocturnal butterfly. Its wingspan is about 30 cm and it is often confused with a bird.

5.The hardiest butterfly in the world is called “Monarch”. She can cover a distance of a thousand kilometers without stopping.

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

7.The most amazing fact about these creatures is that butterflies need the sun's heat in order to fly.

8.4 butterfly wings are covered with scales, which are sacs with transparent ribbed walls. They fall off after a careless touch. me, 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 the rarest 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, pupa and adult (butterfly).

Eggs can have different shapes: from spherical and round to cylindrical and angular. It depends on the type of butterfly.

10. Interesting fact: a butterfly lays its offspring in one place for many years in a row.

11.Butterflies never sleep.

12. In some countries in Asia and South America, 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 parts called lenses.

14.The only continent where lepidopterans 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. Butterflies have taste buds on their paws, i.e. standing on the plant, they can taste it.

17.Butterflies are one of the most common collecting objects among the most famous people in the world, such as: Nabokov, Rothschild, Bulgakov, Mavrodi.

18.The period during which the butterfly lays eggs lasts only a few days, but one individual can lay more than a thousand eggs.

19. Mostly all caterpillars live on land, but there is also a type of water caterpillar called broad-winged moth.

20. In general, 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 Queen Alexandra's swallowtail, the largest butterfly on the planet.

It can only be found in 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 due to their incredibly beautiful coloring, and some of these creatures are pests for agricultural 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 off the energy accumulated during the period when the butterfly was still a caterpillar.

24. In Russian, the word “butterfly” is derived from the word “baba”, since our ancestors believed that all witches become butterflies after death.

25.The smallest butterfly in the world is rightfully considered the “Blue Dwarf”, whose wingspan is only 1.4 cm.

26.In the tropical forests of the New and Old Worlds, there is a species of butterfly whose males feed on animal tears.

27.Butterflies are myopic!

28.These creatures can even distinguish colors, however, not all of them. Each species sees some of its own shades. So, for example, the cabbage bird sees red, but the satire does not distinguish it at all.

29. Peru and one Indian state, Sikkim, are considered the richest in the diversity of lepidopteran species.

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

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

32.The most common butterfly in Russia and Siberia is the Peacock eye. Thanks 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 an eye-shaped spot characteristic of this species, while the lower part is completely black-brown.

33.Butterflies are crepuscular creatures. Only some representatives of this group of insects are diurnal. Butterflies feed on nectar and other plant secretions containing sugar.

These creatures of incredible beauty amaze people at all times with their incredible variety of colors, bizarre shapes and intricate designs. Butterflies are born in order to die, giving life to a new generation first.

The science of butterflies is called lepidopterology. During her short life, a female butterfly can lay more than 1,000 eggs. Butterflies are classified as insects complete transformation, or holometamorphosis. Their life cycle includes four phases: Egg; Larva (caterpillar); Pupa; Adult insect (imago). Butterflies are insects with complete metamorphosis, or holometamorphosis. Their life cycle includes four phases: Egg; Larva (caterpillar); Pupa; 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 broken down into a thick liquid that will feed the special, programmed cells that have lain in the caterpillar track. These cell clusters begin to form specialized body parts such as wings, legs and eyes of the new creature. This process continues for days, weeks, and sometimes months, depending on the type of butterfly that appears. The final stage occurs when the adult butterfly finally pushes itself out of its chrysalis, looking nothing 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, like in humans, but delivers nutrients, various hormones and enzymes to all insect cells. The ability of butterflies to find “spouses” at great distances is amazing. Moths are especially famous for this: males of some species detect a female several kilometers away! The wings of the M. rethenor butterfly from the genus Morpho shine with iridescent colors. The male peacock eye (Eudia pavonia) has an exceptional sense of smell

When the butterfly breaks through the soft shell, its wings are wet and crumpled, and he must rest while he expands his wings and pumps them with blood. Continued flapping makes them strong, and soon the adult butterfly is ready to fly away and begin the 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 for touch and smell. They also have two large compound eyes, meaning that each of them represents 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, and the famous financier Walter Rothschild. Among our contemporaries, Andrei Makarevich and the Mavrodi brothers, owners of one of the largest collections in Russia, drew attention to butterflies. Vladimir Nabokov discovered 20 species of butterflies and gave them names. And he donated his collection of 4,324 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, and the famous financier Walter Rothschild. Among our contemporaries, Andrei Makarevich and the Mavrodi brothers, owners of one of the largest collections in Russia, drew attention to butterflies. Vladimir Nabokov discovered 20 species of butterflies and gave them names. And he donated his collection of 4,324 copies to the Zoological Museum of the University of Lausanne. The lilac moth (Naxa seriaria) is capable of taking off from the surface of the water. The South American nymphalid (Hamadryas feronia) loudly flaps its wings.

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.

The butterfly's wings are the most important part, as they allow it to move around for food, shelter, a mate, 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 the leaf. Different species have wings different shapes, which make each fly differently. Those with large wings flap and make long glides, while those with wide wings flutter and flow or move in short bursts. long, thin wings fly faster, and those with short, triangular wings can zig-zag and fire quickly.

The Red Book serves as the scientific and directive basis for organizing the protection of rare and endangered butterfly species. Thus, 70 species of Lepidoptera belonging to 14 families are included in the IUCN Red List. 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 in Russia was published, which included 33 species of butterflies. Queen Alexandra's ornithoptera (Ornithoptera alexandrae). One of the rare species that is in danger of extinction. Despite restrictions on trade in this species, the unofficial cost 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 by using the sun's position as a compass, while others believe they are able to detect changes in light waves that are filtered 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

The ancient Greeks are said to have believed that when people died, their souls left their bodies in the shape of a butterfly. Their symbol for the soul 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 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 “Yugyd va” National Park can be found already at the end of May. These include urticaria, lemongrass, and algae. There are mourning flowers, noctuid moths, and, less commonly, multiflora. In June, butterflies of a new generation appear. In meadows and forest edges, carnivals from the blueberry family are abundant. Potted whites flutter under the crown of birches. Bright symbols of spring are dawn butterflies or aurora with cheerful orange spots on wings visible from afar. Friendly groups of garden whites - rutabaga, cabbage, and turnips - gather around the thawed areas. Dawn butterfly Peat bog blueberry Urticaria

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; this 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?” Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee Summary Muhammad Ali's boxing strategy likely originated with his assistant Drew "Bundini" Brown.

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

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

In the park, cocoon moths are represented by four species: raspberry, downy, 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. The first moths appear in June. They got their name because of the way the caterpillars of this species move. Outwardly, this is similar to measuring distance using fingers (spans). Representatives 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 color 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 light-colored, 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 eyes. The national park is home to two species: the rufous night peacock and the lesser night peacock.

More than two million Britons suffer from phobias and although they are often trivialized or ridiculed, they can dominate lives. Celebrities suffer from them too. Earlier this month, Kylie Minogue revealed her own strange 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 stage a wedding in the depths of winter when she knew the chances of encountering a butterfly or butterfly were slim. "People don't appreciate how a phobia can turn you off in so many ways," says Tina, a former TV researcher from Croydon, south London, who is now a full-time mum to Toby, two. I closed the windows in the summer and was afraid to leave the house.

In the evenings, various scoops or moths fly - the most numerous representatives of Lepidoptera. In deciduous and mixed forests Five species from the corydalis family were found in the national park: greater harpy, willow, zigzag, carmelite, and silver hole. The caterpillars of a number of corydalis are distinguished by their bright colors. Since July, various mother-of-pearls have been flying in the meadows: Selena, violet, Titania, and small marigold. Less common are mother-of-pearl meadowsweet, Aglaya, and early checkerwort. A characteristic representative of the Ural fauna is the alpine mother of pearl (Tor). Unusual in the polar regions are Laton's mother-of-pearl and Evgeniy'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 or moths fly - the most numerous representatives of Lepidoptera. Five species from the corydalis family were found in the deciduous and mixed forests of the national park: greater harpy, willow, zigzag, carmelite, silver hole. The caterpillars of a number of corydalis are distinguished by their bright colors. Since July, various mother-of-pearls have been flying in the meadows: Selena, violet, Titania, and small marigold. Less common are mother-of-pearl meadowsweet, Aglaya, and early checkerwort. A characteristic representative of the Ural fauna is the alpine mother of pearl (Tor). Unusual in the polar regions are Laton's mother-of-pearl and Evgeniy's mother-of-pearl, which is listed in the Red Book of the Komi Republic. Its biology has not yet been studied. Perlamutrovka Evgenia

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

We even took holidays to colder places where there was less chance of running into them. Her phobia started when she was a little girl without any apparent reason. “Nobody took it seriously back then,” says Tina. “At school, some girls 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 reasons, but they seem to be the result of a combination of genetics, environmental triggers and learned behavior. Now that it is being taken more seriously, more research is being done to find new treatments, including one study in Japan to develop a drug that may be able to shut down the part of the brain involved in driving phobias.

Large white hawthorns often feed on meadow flowers. Numerous in the park are Nigella marigolds: Ligeia, Euryala, Embla. Unlike other butterflies, nigellas are not afraid of cloudy weather and often fly in the drizzling rain. The Northern and Subpolar Urals are perhaps the last place where the number of the swallowtail butterfly does not yet cause concern. This one is beautiful and large sailboat from the cavalier family has become rare in territories developed by humans. Swallowtail is recognizable - yellow with a bright pattern consisting of a black border and noticeable bluish spots. A luxurious 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 with white spots. The well-dressed admiral is a real celebrity. The butterfly became famous throughout the world thanks to its fearless flights across the Atlantic. In the Subpolar Urals you can meet this tireless traveler regularly. There is a version that they successfully overwinter here. Large white hawthorns often feed on meadow flowers. Numerous in the park are Nigella marigolds: Ligeia, Euryala, Embla. Unlike other butterflies, nigellas are not afraid of cloudy weather and often fly in the drizzling rain. The Northern and Subpolar Urals are perhaps the last place where the number of the swallowtail butterfly does not yet cause concern. This beautiful and large sailboat from the cavalier family has become rare in territories developed by humans. Swallowtail is recognizable - yellow with a bright pattern consisting of a black border and noticeable bluish spots. A luxurious 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 with white spots. The well-dressed admiral is a real celebrity. The butterfly became famous throughout the world thanks to its fearless flights across the Atlantic. In the Subpolar Urals you can meet this tireless traveler regularly. There is a version that they successfully overwinter here. Nigella banded Admiral vulgare Meadow jaundice

Once, while my neighbors were away, my boyfriend had to drive across London in the middle of the night to remove a moth from 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 child and be afraid to go out into the garden or park in the summer,” explains Tina.

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

At the end of July - beginning of August, one of the most beautiful butterflies of the national park, the phoebus swallowtail, flies in the subalpine meadows. The sailboat Phoebus flies only in clear weather. Phoebus caterpillars develop mainly on rosea radiola. And if this plant, undergoing poaching, decreases in number, then this may cause a decrease in the number of this butterfly, listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. The phoebus swallowtail has a very unique fauna of lepidoptera in the north of the national park in the Kozhim River basin. Some Siberian species are numerous here: Marigold magna, Angara mother of pearl. Marbled nigella is very rare. It is common to find marigold Norna, Polyxena, northern, Rossa, Euryale, Ligeia, Embla and some other species in tundra places. An interesting representative Ural is the Alaskan mother of pearl. Large forest 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 stage in their lives. For unknown reasons, women are twice as likely to suffer from phobias than men. The most common are spiders, snakes, heights, open spaces and social situations.

IN 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 terrified by a dentist's training were less anxious after acupuncture sessions. Earlier this year, Japanese scientists said phobias such as fear of spiders, snakes, flying and heights could be cured with an injection. It is believed that since fear is a learned habit, the impact can "switch off" the part of the brain that generates emotion behind it.

In the high-altitude lichen tundra there are very few diurnal butterflies. Among the rocks, the Alpine whitefish (Calliditsa) and the Melissa marigold still live. Alpine whiteweed 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. Male lemon balm exhibits pronounced territorial behavior. Usually the male sits, hiding on the rocks, but when another male appears in the air, he abruptly takes off and rushes after him in pursuit. Marigold Melissa Alpine whiteweed

Researchers were encouraged after tests on goldfish, which have brains similar to humans, showed that when they were given a dose of lidocaine, they "forgot" how to be startled by a flashing light. The therapist can also teach the patient to control the phobia using deep breathing. This method is called exhalation or desensitization therapy and involves increasing exposure to dangerous situations.

Regression therapy focuses on how past experiences and conflicts caused phobias. By studying them, therapists believe that sufferers can be freed 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 environmental indicators. Butterflies are sensitive to the slightest changes in nature and, thanks to their bright colors, are excellent indicators of their condition. environment. The richer our area is in various species of butterflies and the greater their numbers, the healthier natural environment. Swallowtail

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

“People will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid what they fear.” In her profession she is known as a lepidopterist, a person who collects or studies butterflies or moths. And she is one courageous woman who, without any remorse, pursues her passionate hobby of stalking and studying moths or moths into dangerous territory.

Butterflies

The science of butterflies is called lepidopterology.

Since ancient times, butterflies have been associated with beauty and eternity. IN Ancient Greece the 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 flying into a house is lucky.

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

Recognized as India's first female lipopterist studying the most elusive, shy and least studied insect on the Indian subcontinent, it is hard to imagine that Shubalaxmi had a phobia for any insect in her younger days. My mother suffered from this too, so it was probably inherited!

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

The largest moth in the world is Attacus altas. Its wingspan is more than 30 cm, and it is often mistaken for a bird.

In addition to tropical butterflies, there are also lesser known ones - for example, arctic ones, with whitish or transparent wings. Some species even live on Canada's Queen Elizabeth Island, 750 km from the North Pole.

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

Butterflies never sleep and they don't have lungs.

Some butterflies pretend to be dead when attacked by predators, while others are capable of reaching 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. They often fight for sunny areas of the earth.

Butterflies distinguish between red, green and yellow colors.

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. Multi-colored, fragile and impetuous, they are able to enliven 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.

From a biological point of view, 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 even found in Greenland. These creatures are familiar to everyone, but it is always useful to learn something new, even about a well-known subject.

1. A lepidopterist is not a doctor of some rare specialization, he is a scientist who studies butterflies. The corresponding branch of entomology is called lepidopterology. The name is derived from the ancient Greek words “scale” and “wing” - according to the biological classification, butterflies are lepidoptera.

2. Butterflies are one of the most diverse insect species. About 160,000 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 within a very wide range - from 3.2 mm to 28 cm.

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

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

7. Despite the very complex structure of the eye (up to 27,000 components), butterflies are myopic and have difficulty distinguishing colors and stationary objects.

8. The actual wings of butterflies are transparent. The scales attached to them are colored, improving the flight qualities of lepidopterans.

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

10. The butterfly mating procedure includes flying dances and other forms of courtship. Females attract males with pheromones. Males can smell the scent of a female Emperor moth 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 room left for other creatures on Earth. The offspring of one cabbage plant would be three times the weight of all people.

12. In mid-latitudes, up to three passes life cycles butterflies 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 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. Moreover, in some species, offspring bred in places of migration independently reach their places of permanent residence from where their parents flew away. The mechanism for transmitting “traffic information” to scientists is still unknown.

15. It is widely known that butterflies mimic to escape predators. To do this, they use color (the notorious “eyes” on the wings) or smell. Less known is that some butterflies have small hairs on their bodies and wings designed to absorb and disperse ultrasound, which the bats published in search of prey. And butterflies of the Ursa Dipper species are able to generate clicks that disrupt the mouse “radar” signal.

16. In Japan, a couple of paper butterflies are always given as a wedding gift. In China, this insect is both considered a symbol of love and family happiness, and eat it with pleasure.

17. Back in the 19th century, butterflies became popular collectibles. Now the world's largest butterfly collection at the Thomas Witt Museum in Munich contains 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 there are 6 million specimens in the collection.

18. Famous butterfly collectors included 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 scant. It is mentioned that in 2006, at one of the American auctions, a butterfly was sold for 28 thousand dollars. The cost of butterflies can be indirectly indicated by the fact that in the jungles of North and Central America, dozens of people die every year hunting for rare butterflies.

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