Butterflies - it is amazing creatures, delicate, fragile and delicate.All surprising variety of patterns and colors of these creatures.They were compared with unusual fluttering flowers.But more people are surprised at how the caterpillar can be transformed into such a fascinating creature.
Systematics
Butterflies - it is one of 34 units of class insects are arthropods, and the type of the animal kingdom.They number more than 350 000 species, among which there are both day and night representatives.
detachment Lepidoptera, which includes these amazing creatures, divided into many suborders.The basis of classification takes the shape of the wings of these insects.For convenience, all over the world decided to write the names of butterflies in Latin.
General characteristics
During its development, these invertebrates are four stages:
- egg stage.During this period, the adult insect lays eggs circular or oval shape, which are arranged in one or in groups, depending on the species.
- larval stage occurs after the onset of egg tracks.Since the main objective of the insect at this stage was the accumulation of nutrients, all members have a well-developed jaw and a good appetite.The food for them can be both plant and animal organisms.During this period, it is increasing the size of the body of an insect sometimes even thousands of times.The larva goes through several molts.
- pupal stage occurs after the larva has reached the desired weight.Her body is covered with thick shell, it ceases to eat and move.After this metamorphosis, the restructuring process of the body.As a result, a large voracious caterpillar forms of great beauty adult butterfly.
- adult stage of the insect - imago.It starts from the moment of breaking through the shell.That appearance at this stage and constitute the names of butterflies.For example, butterfly sesiidae got its name because of the transparent wings.The main function of the body at this stage - dispersal and reproduction.Most representatives have sucking mouthparts (proboscis) and are able to move actively.They have two pairs of wings, which are covered with bristles mutated - scales.
rarest representatives
Butterfly World and their names are dazzling, every insect in its fine.Unfortunately, in recent years many species decreases and require protection.The list of endangered can be found in the Red Book of the world.It is indicated by the name of the butterflies in alphabetical order, a description of the habitat of each species and their approximate number.
a consequence of environmental degradation on the planet such species have become rare:
- ordinary Apollo (Parnassius apollo).By the extinction of this representative took him a bad ability to fly, which is why it has become easy prey for predators.Kind is very sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and is powered only when sunlight.
- Mnemosyne (Parnassius mnemosyne).Their black coloration was the cause of the second title of Butterflies - Black Apollo.The reason for reducing the number of - poor ability to fly, catching, reduction of food resources and habitat.
- Brameya European (Brahmaea europaea).Today is guarded, the cause of extinction - a small, limited habitat area.
butterfly champions
deserve no less attention and butterflies giants:
- Tizaniya Agrippina - the largest representative of the order Lepidoptera.It conducts nocturnal way of life and eats the leaves of Cassia.He lives in Mexico and South America.Both pairs of wings wavy at the edges, their color varies from white to dark brown.
- Kostsinostsere Hercules - the largest butterfly of the world, which leads the nightlife.The size of the female insect smears reach 28 cm. There are the representatives of Australia and New Guinea.The large size is not only of adults but the caterpillar.Its length is 16-18 cm.
Even those insects that do not grow to a large size, are striking in their beauty.Consideration should be given the names of butterflies with the smallest size:
- Atsetoziya lives in the UK.The scope of its wings and body length of only 2 mm.And even with such dimensions, it attracts the attention of bright colors in shades of blue.In its short life, which is about 10 days, this butterfly has time to two generations of offspring.All members feed on nectar or pollen.
- Redikuleza found in the Canary Islands.
- moth.The scope of their wings - from 1 to 5 cm. And the shape of the wings and the colors of the most diverse.
Value butterflies
Like all the animals on the planet, butterflies have both positive and negative meaning.Most types of benefits, pollinating plants.Those representatives who feed on weeds, used as a biological way to deal with them.At the same time the insects can be harmful to agriculture eating crop plants in the fields.
Many connoisseurs of the beauty of these insects create collections, each of them has a plate on which there is the name of the butterflies and their description.These meetings are used not only as souvenirs but also for research purposes.
