Butterflies - Lepidoptera is related to an insect having a full cycle of transformation.Their distinguishing feature from other members of the order - the presence of chitin scales on rear and front wings.These elements are the finest optical components, which in interaction with ultraviolet allow you to see a range of colors that the human eye does not perceive.
to see how the development of butterflies, you must first understand that the cycle includes a complete metamorphosis.This process comprises the following steps:
- egg stage;
- stage caterpillars (larvae);
- pupal stage;
- stage of an adult insect (imago).
Just as is the development of butterfly turn into adults, and other representatives of Lepidoptera - butterflies and moths.
Mating butterflies
So, to understand how the development of butterflies, you need to start with the main stages of the life cycle - mating.Important factors in reproduction are the shape of the wings and their color, as well as variants of courtship - dances and courtship flights.Males can detect a female at a distance of more than one kilometer.Find partners allow each other pheromones, as well as fragrant scales located on the legs or wings.
Mating takes these insects on plants or on the ground for 20-25 minutes to several hours.All this time, there are still individuals.Mating, the female is able to obtain from the male sperm, minerals and proteins.It is the last two components play an important role in the formation and laying eggs.In some species of moths in females after pairing occurs on the abdomen of an appendage of chitin, which forms the end of the male.It is necessary to eliminate the possibility of re-fertilization with other males.
egg stage
first in the life cycle of the butterfly is the egg.These butterflies have different shapes and quite hard shell.They are angular, rounded, spherical.Their outer surface embossed with symmetrical bumps and depressions.The color scheme is a transition from white to green, sometimes there is a colored pattern on the outer surface.
usually female can lay one clutch of more than 1000 eggs.Depending on the species of insects, they may leave them as a group, up to 10 pieces, and one at a time.Egg stage lasts from 8 to 15 days.
caterpillar stage
butterfly larva - a wormlike caterpillar.She pronounced biting mouthparts.Do caterpillars have special salivary glands, producing a secret, which, solidifying in the air, forming a silk thread.Larvae mostly herbivores, that is their food - the flowers, leaves and fruits of plants.
There are these types of caterpillars that eat the larvae of ants, aphids and scale insects.These species are predators.The body of 10 tracks with five pairs of abdominal fat legs and 3 infants with three pairs of jointed legs segments.The body has a smooth, spiked hair and skin warts.Normally, the caterpillars dwell on the earth, the trees, the bushes, but some of them, such shirokokrylye moth can live under water.They can be divided into two major groups:
- caterpillars prone to free lifestyle;
- caterpillars prone to the hidden life.
last constructed of silken thread portable Case consists in which live.They wear it for yourself and hide it.Also, the tracks in the form of shelter building itself Case consists of a cigar-shaped leaves, fastened his pre silk thread.The cycle of butterflies at this stage can last several years.Caterpillars northern latitudes may fall into a state of diapause until the next summer.For example, the life cycle Moth larvae that live in Greenland, can last up to 14 years.
pupal stage
Butterflies pupa sedentary.The main type of characteristic for Lepidoptera - glued.Some families, for example lasiocampidae, nymph dwells inside the cocoon, the caterpillar that was gossip.Cylindrical form is obtained, sometimes rounded.The color scheme - from light to dark colors with the presence of bands and inclusions.Usually doll is glued inside the leaves on the stems and flowers of plants already clearly rising above the beginnings of the abdomen, wings, legs and proboscis.At this stage there is no food.
Stage insect
adults, finally form an insect emerging from the pupa, called the "imago".At this stage of development of butterflies and completes the magic of metamorphosis.The pupa becomes transparent shell maslyanisto- about a day before the release of her insect.Imago then crawls out, breaking the hard covers.Mostly females come out later than males.When the butterfly wings otverdeyut, violence, and they will have the final painting, then the insect fly.Imago has puberty and can reproduce.Such a sequence of butterflies allows you to respond to the changes occurring in nature.For example, improvement or worsening of weather conditions, rainfall, temperature.
So, to understand how the development of butterflies, we have solved another mystery of nature - how in fact made possible a magical transformation from ugly green caterpillar into a beautiful flying insect.
