Butterflies are amazing creatures, refined,fragile and delicate. Everyone is surprised by the variety of patterns and colors of these creatures. They are compared to unusual fluttering colors. But even more people are surprised at how a caterpillar can transform into such a charming creature.
Systematics
Butterflies are one of the 34 units of the classinsects, belong to the arthropod type and the animal kingdom. Their number exceeds 350 000 species, among which there are both day and night representatives.
A group of Lepidoptera, which includes theseamazing creatures, is divided into many suborders. The classification is based on the shape of the wings of these insects. For convenience, it is customary throughout the world to write the names of butterflies in Latin.
general characteristics
During their development, these invertebrates undergo four stages:
- Stage of the egg. During this period, an adult insect lays eggs of round or oval shape, which are located one by one or in groups, depending on the species.
- The stage of the larva occurs after the appearance of eggscaterpillars. Since the main task of the insect at this stage was the accumulation of nutrients, all representatives have a well-developed jaw and excellent appetite. Food for them can be both plant and animal organisms. During this period, the size of the insect's body increases at times even thousands of times. The larva passes several lines.
- The pupal stage begins after the larvahas reached the necessary weight. Her body is covered with a thick shell, she stops eating and moving. After this, there is a metamorphosis, the process of restructuring the body. As a result, an adult butterfly emerges from a large gluttonous caterpillar.
- The stage of an adult insect is an imago.It begins with the moment of penetration of the shell. It was in appearance at this stage that the names of butterflies were compiled. For example, the butterfly-glass-lover got its name because of the transparent wings. The main function of the body at this stage is to settle and multiply. Most representatives have sucking mouth apparatus (proboscis) and are able to actively move. They have two pairs of wings, which are covered with modified setae - scales.
The rarest representatives
Butterflies of the world and their names amaze the imagination,every insect is beautiful in its own way. Unfortunately, recently the numbers of many species are decreasing, and they require protection. A list of endangered people can be found in the Red Book of the World. It indicates the name of butterflies in alphabetical order, a description of the habitat of each species and their approximate number.
Due to the deterioration of the ecological situation on the planet, such species became rare:
- Apollo vulgaris (Parnassius apollo).The extinction of this representative led to his poor ability to fly, which made him an easy prey for predators. The species is very sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and feeds only in sunlight.
- Mnemosins (Parnassius mnemosyne).Their black coloring caused the appearance of the second name of butterflies - Black Apollo. The reason for the decline in numbers is a poor ability to fly, catch, reduce the forage reserve and habitat.
- Bramea European (Brahmaea europaea). Today it is under protection, the cause of extinction is a small, limited habitat.
Butterfly-record-holders
No less attention should be paid to butterflies-giants:
- Tusaniya agrippina - the largest representativea group of Lepidoptera. Leads the night way of life and eats the leaves of cassia. It lives in Mexico and South America. Both pairs of wings are wavy along the edges, their color varies from white to dark brown.
- Koscinosnere Hercules is the largest butterflya world that leads a night life. The size of the female insects can reach 28 cm. These representatives are found in Australia and New Guinea. Large size has not only imago, but also a caterpillar. Its length is 16-18 cm.
But even those insects that do not grow to large sizes are striking in their beauty. You should consider the names of butterflies with the smallest size:
- Acetosis inhabits the UK.The range of its wings and body length is only 2 mm. And even with such dimensions, it attracts attention with a bright coloration in blue shades. During its short life, which is about 10 days, this butterfly manages to give two generations of offspring. All representatives eat nectar or pollen of flowers.
- Rediculosis occurs in the Canary Islands.
- Fire. The breadth of their wings is from 1 to 5 cm. And the shape of the wings and the coloring are very diverse.
Meaning butterflies
Like all animals on the planet, butterflies have bothpositive, and negative meaning. Most species benefit by pollinating plants. Those representatives who eat weeds are used as a biological way of fighting them. Simultaneously, insects can harm agriculture by eating crop plants in the fields.
Many connoisseurs of beauty of these insects createcollections, each of them has plates on which there is a name of butterflies and their description. These meetings are used not only as souvenirs, but also for scientific purposes.
