Scientists who study butterflies. Entomologist is a profession concerned with the study of insects. How relevant is it? Peru and one Indian state, Sikkim, are considered to be the richest in the diversity of lepidopteran species.

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 lepidopterists 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 forests of the Amazon, 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.

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

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 it to all insect cells nutrients, various hormones and enzymes. 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

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.

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 rare species that are 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

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

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 family Saturnia, or peacock-eye. The national park is home to two species: the rufous night peacock eye and the lesser night peacock eye.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 scanty. 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.”

What are those who study butterflies called? Fish are ichthyologists, snakes are serpentologists, birds are ornithologists, and butterflies??? and got the best answer

Answer from Yovetlan[guru]
Entomologists






Odonatology - dragonflies

Trichopterology - caddisflies

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: What are those who study butterflies called? Fish are ichthyologists, snakes are serpentologists, birds are ornithologists, and butterflies???

Answer from Rain drop[guru]
A scientist who studies insects is called an entomologist. An entomologist studies beetles, butterflies, flies, etc. The branch of entomology that studies Lepidoptera is called lepidopterology.

Answer from Scots Hammer[guru]
Specifically, butterflies are studied by a lepidopterologist. Lepidopterology is a branch of entomology about Lepidoptera.

Answer from Anatoly Krylov[guru]
Entomologists

Answer from Nadezhda Kotsareva[guru]
Entomologists

Answer from Amangeldy amangeldyev[guru]
By the way, water chestnuts grew in your Goloseevsky Park. I haven't seen it anywhere else.

Answer from Kirili nikitenko[newbie]
Apiology - studies bees (Apoidea)
Dipterology - Diptera insects (mosquitoes and flies)
Hymenopterology - hymenoptera insects (ichneumon wasps, sawflies, bees, wasps, ants)
Coleopterology - Coleoptera (Coleoptera)
Lepidopterology - Lepidoptera
Myrmecology - ants (Formicidae)
Odonatology - dragonflies
Orthopterology - Orthoptera (grasshoppers, locusts)
Trichopterology - caddisflies

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.