The science of butterflies is called lepidopterology. For my 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 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 for 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 often, 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 eye and the lesser night peacock eye.

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 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 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 the black marigolds: ligea, euryale, 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 the black marigolds: ligea, euryale, 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 butterflies, 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 have been 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 butterflies. 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 a large number 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.

Except 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.

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

Let's start with what does the profession of entomologist mean? First of all, he is a scientist who has an impeccable understanding of 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 works published in scientific publications. But this will only allow you to become an amateur entomologist, because to obtain a real position you must have 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 deals with the study of all insects without exception. Specialists in this field travel to all corners of the world to look for new species of beetles, monitor the population of butterflies, catalog endangered subspecies of dragonflies, and so on. There are also scientists who devote themselves to general entomology. These are pioneers in the world of insects, whose main desire is to learn everything new.

But an entomologist is a multifaceted profession, as evidenced by its practical direction. The specialists of this group study insect pests, as well as develop methods to combat them. Including ticks and mosquitoes, which are carriers of many infections.

Relevance on the labor exchange

Where can those who deserve it look for work? 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 university.

In particular, specialists in general entomology 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 greater range of opportunities for a scientist (including business trips abroad).

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

✴“Lepidopterology is the name of the science of butterflies” ///from the Internet/✴

Butterflies are born to die, giving life to a new generation. Most live only a few days, with the exception of the Monarch butterfly, which can live up to six months.

“We wouldn't think they were so beautiful if they didn't fly. Or if they flew straight and fast like bees. Or if they bit" /Primo Levi/

Butterflies are the second most numerous pollinators after bees. Today on globe There are approximately 165,000 species of butterflies, and entomologists make new discoveries every year.

Butterflies taste food by standing on it. This is because their taste sensors are located in their feet.

The butterfly's flight speed sometimes exceeds 60 km/h. The fastest flight is in butterflies of the hawkmoth family.

Scientists have found that the first nocturnal butterflies appeared about 250 million years ago, while daytime butterflies are only 40 million years old. Many of these winged insects, similar to modern ones, lived already 30-40 million years ago on our planet.

The largest moth in the world is Attacus Atlas. With a wingspan of 30 cm, it is often mistaken for a bird.

Among all the 165,000 species of Lepidoptera known to us, the smallest is Stigmella ridiculosa, which lives on the Canary Islands. Its wingspan and body length are approximately 2 mm.

Some butterflies pretend to be dead when attacked by predators.

Butterflies have amazing ability find “spouses” at long distances, given their small size. And, as a rule, this distance reaches several kilometers.

If in Europe they only enjoy the beauty of butterflies, then in China, South America and India they know how to cook them and eat them with pleasure.

Butterflies can't hear, but they can sense vibration, which works better when they need to hide from predators.

Several species claim the title of the rarest butterfly, including the largest of all butterflies - Queen Alexandra's swallowtail (or birdwing). She lives in Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, this butterfly has been hunted too actively by collectors, so it is on the verge of extinction.

The desert-dwelling yucca moth is the only pollinator of flowering yucca cacti. Pollination occurs in the following way. A butterfly takes pollen from one cactus into its mouth and carries it to another cactus, flying towards the smell of flowers. Upon arrival, she unerringly unloads the pollen in the right place for the seeds to set. Here the butterfly lays three eggs, and its caterpillars feed on cactus seeds that were formed as a result of pollination. They use a small amount of seeds for food; most of the seeds are saved and give life to new plants.

Among the moth butterflies (Pyralididae) there are those that feed on animal food, and some of them have adaptations to living in aquatic environment, they are able to live under water. 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.

Some butterflies never eat because they do not have a mouth. They live on the energy they have stored in the form of caterpillars.

Butterflies have an amazing appetite; some of them can drink a sugar solution twice their own weight.

As an exception, predators are also present among butterflies, for example, Calyptra eustrigata, which lives from India to Malaysia. These butterflies feed on the blood of animals, piercing their covers with a sharp proboscis, while females feed on the juice of fruits and plants.

Antarctica is the only continent, on which no lepidoptera were found.

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 is 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 quite long life cycle: The Brixton butterfly is a long-lived butterfly, 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 rising even 6000 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 tropical butterflies that are 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 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- 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 typically 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 the name of a scientist who studies butterflies, you will learn from this article.

Since ancient times, people have associated butterflies with eternity and beauty. 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 their wedding. And in Southeast Asia, this flying insect is a symbol of happiness.

The biggest night 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 the butterfly profession?

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

The name of this profession, just like another word - lepidopterology, has Latin roots and comes from the word “lepidoptera”, meaning butterfly. Scientists lepidopterologists study their physiology, taxonomy 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 interested in butterflies are called lepidopterists. To get a diploma in this profession, you need to graduate from the biology department at a university and work as an entomologist at the department.

• Butterflies don't have lungs, so they never sleep.
• Butterflies can be very cunning: when they see 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 areas of the earth.
• They are often used for medicinal purposes. For example, in Stockholm there are numerous clinics where their patients are treated in greenhouses with butterflies and flowers for stress.

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