A scientist who studies butterflies is called. Flying flowers or the science of butterflies. In the tropical forests of the New and Old Worlds, there is a species of butterfly whose males feed on the tears of animals.

What is the name of the scientist who studies butterflies, you will learn from this article.

Butterflies have been associated with eternity and beauty since ancient times. For example, in Ancient Greece they were a symbol of the immortal soul, in India a sign of love and fidelity. Therefore, in this country, a couple in love gave butterflies to each other for a wedding. And in South-East Asia this flying insect is a symbol of happiness.

the biggest nocturnal butterfly in the world it is considered Attacus altas. Due to its large wingspan of 30 cm, it is often mistaken for a bird in the sky.

Who studies butterflies profession?

That is why these beautiful creatures attract scientists who study them closely. The person who studies butterflies is called lepidopterist.

The name of this profession, just like another word - lepidopterology, has Latin roots and comes from the word "lepidoptera", which means a butterfly. Scientists lepidopterologists study their physiology, systematics and identification of their individuals from other representatives of the order of insects. Very often they combine their profession with the work of a geographer, ecologist and ornithologist. People who are superficially fond of butterflies are called lepidopterists. To get a diploma in this profession, you need to graduate from the Faculty of Biology at the university and work as an entomologist at the department.

• Butterflies don't have lungs, so they never sleep.
• Butterflies can be very cunning: at the sight of predators, they can pretend to be dead, and as soon as the attackers are out of sight, the insects fly away at a speed of 50 km / h.
• It turns out that they distinguish three colors - yellow, red and green.
• These insects are very warlike. Butterflies often fight for sunny, warm patches of land.
• They are often used for medical purposes. For example, in Stockholm there are numerous clinics where their patients are treated in greenhouses with butterflies and flowers for stress relief.

We hope that from this article you have learned about what kind of science studying butterflies is very popular today.

What is lepidopterology?

What a difficult word! You will break your tongue while speaking. This is the strange name of 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 of all countries have been studying butterflies for a long time. Others give butterflies years, or even a lifetime.

And here's what's interesting: not only lepidopterists are involved in them, but also people working in a field that seems to be very far from butterflies. Did you know that the famous chemist Butlerov and academic 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 dangers - after all, the real kingdom of butterflies is the wilds of Indonesia, the forests of the Amazon, central Africa. But why should they be studied anyway?

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

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

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

Is it necessary to know the habits of our enemies in order to successfully fight them? Necessary!

But that is not all!

A scientist-geographer will look at a different butterfly and say: - Now it's clear to me. These two islands once formed one whole: the same butterflies fly on them.

The climatologist will look and exclaim: - Here is another proof! The Arctic is getting warmer. southern views butterflies move north.

The aircraft designer will look: - It is necessary to create aircraft with fluttering wings. Butterfly plane.

The artist will look, he will be delighted: - What a wonderful drawing! It should be used for coloring fabrics.

Look ... but, perhaps, that's enough. You already understood 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 here amateurs work to help them - collectors of butterflies. People of all ages and occupations, schoolchildren, students devote their leisure time to a wonderful pastime - collecting butterflies.

Here I am, 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 is a label; on it is small but clearly written the place and date of the capture of the insect. This label is the butterfly's passport. It gives it scientific value.

Butterfly catching is a kind of sport. Where have I not been with a net in my hands! And in the tundra of Siberia, and in the desert Central Asia, and in the steppes, and in the mountains. There were funny incidents with me, but there were also dangerous adventures.

When I am out of town, every butterfly excursion turns into an interesting crowded expedition. Time flies... Some of the guys who helped me with fishing have already graduated from the university and have become real lepidopterologists, there are those who are still studying at school, but are already seriously preparing to enter the biological faculty in order to study the science of butterflies and explore their numerous kingdom.

In conclusion, I will quote the words of the 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 at the end of my life, at least once again, experience the excitement from which you choke when you first go fishing in a new unfamiliar area, promising unseen and not caught before butterflies…”

I can fully confirm his words.

Many are interested in the question of who is an entomologist. Is it a profession or rather a vocation? After all, it is difficult to imagine a person who makes a living by catching and then studying insects. It is also important how relevant in modern world this specialty. Especially considering the fact that every year the range, and with it the population of insects, is rapidly declining.

Let's start with what does the profession of an entomologist mean? First of all, this is a scientist who is impeccably versed in various types of insects, knows their habits and habitats.

How to become an entomologist?

Naturally, you can master this science on your own by reading books about insects, as well as studying the works published in scientific publications. But it will turn out to become only an amateur entomologist, because to get a real position you need a diploma.

Profession entomologist: what does this specialist do?

In general, this profession can be divided into two large groups: general and applied. And although they are both derivatives of the same science, the difference in their application is very great.

General entomology is the study of all insects without exception. Experts in this field travel to all corners of the world in order to look for new species of beetles, monitor the population of butterflies, catalog endangered subspecies of dragonflies, and so on. There are also scientists dedicated to general entomology. These are pioneers in the world of insects, whose main desire is the knowledge of everything new.

But an entomologist is a many-sided profession, as proof of this, its practical direction. The specialists of this group are engaged in the study of insect pests, as well as the development of methods to combat them. Including with ticks and mosquitoes, which are carriers of many infections.

Relevance on the labor market

Where to look for work for those who deserve it honorary title entomologist? This profession is not very popular, so a lot depends on the place of residence, region, as well as the narrow specialty that a person received at a university.

In particular, general entomologists are better off looking for a position at an institute or university where they can devote themselves entirely to the study of insects. Having gained experience, you can compete for a place in a research center, which will open up an even wider range of opportunities for a scientist (including business trips abroad).

In addition, entomologists are needed in disinfection services, whose duties include the destruction of pests. Also good specialist can always count on a place in agricultural sector, because their knowledge of methods of protecting crops from insects is highly valued there.

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.

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.