Swallowtails are diurnal butterflies, many of which are active not just during the day, but only in bright sunlight. They are found in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America. There are more than 570 species in total; they have a variety of patterns on the wings, large sizes and bright colors. Some sailboats have tail-like outgrowths on their wings, hence their second name - tailtails.
Frigate or brigantine?
"Antique" butterfly
Machaon got its name in honor of one of the participants in the Trojan War. This butterfly is large and beautiful. The wingspan of male swallowtails reaches 82 mm, and that of females - 95 mm. It lives throughout almost the entire Northern Hemisphere and has as many as 37 subspecies. In the north, the swallowtail gives one generation per year, in the south - two, but everywhere an adult butterfly lives no more than three weeks. However, during active flight it can be found even in large cities.
Swallowtail - a sailboat in a sea of flowers
What is a tropical insect farm?
Should you buy a ready-made butterfly garden or make it yourself? This question arises among parents who are thinking about how to raise a butterfly at home. The farm is a compact box with transparent walls. Hanging inside are pupae raised in other countries, usually in the Philippines or Costa Rica.
With proper care, moths with colorful wings hatch within three weeks. If the insects do not appear, the company where you purchased the set will replace the pupae with new ones free of charge. Butterflies are hypoallergenic and healthy - before being imported into Russia, they undergo strict veterinary control.
Horns for protection
The swallowtail caterpillar, like other swallowtails, has an osmeterium - a special gland behind the head. It looks like a pair of bright red horns. In a calm state they are retracted. But if the caterpillar is disturbed, it raises the front part of its body, extends its horns and releases an orange-yellow liquid with a pungent, unpleasant odor. It can be found on carrots, dill, parsley, and many other cultivated and wild plants.
The swallowtail is common in eastern North America. It got its name in honor of Glaucus, another Trojan warrior.
Apollo
The sailboat family also includes very extravagant insects called Apollos; they do not have tails on the lower part of their wings. This genus includes fifty species, most of which, due to geographic dispersion, in particular high in the mountains, have separated into isolated populations; scientists have assigned them the status of a subspecies.
Apollo butterflies live in Europe, are found in Asia, and are common in the western part of North America. However, a large percentage of individuals are concentrated in the middle and central parts of Asia. Only by climbing into the most inaccessible areas of the highlands can you see the rarest and most beautiful Apollos. Each insect of this subspecies can be safely called a “swallowtail butterfly.” Photos of these marvelous creatures can be found in the article.
Dragonfly-like
The lamprothera meges butterfly is not very large for a swallowtail. Its wingspan is only 5 cm, but they are equipped with long tails. And in flight, this butterfly resembles a dragonfly, since its front wings are almost devoid of scales and therefore translucent. You can meet this unusual sailboat, like the dragonfly, along the banks of rivers and streams in Southeast Asia.
"Lady with a Train"
Appearance
Their entire body is covered with a chitinous layer. The wings, covered with scales, are penetrated by longitudinal veins. The wingspan and color depend on the type of moth.
On the sedentary head there are huge eyes that receive a color picture of the world. The antennae control spatial orientation and have a sense of smell.
The circulatory system in Lepidoptera is performed by a single vessel, pulsating along the entire body. They do not have a complex system of blood vessels and heart.
The coloring and appearance of an insect serves not only as a distinctive feature of the species, but also as a method of protection and the ability to merge with surrounding objects.
Notes
- Striganova B. R., Zakharov A. A.
Five-language dictionary of animal names: Insects (Latin-Russian-English-German-French) / . - M.: RUSSO, 2000. - P. 265. - 1060 copies. — ISBN 5-88721-162-8. - Korshunov Yu. P.
Keys to the flora and fauna of Russia // Mace Lepidoptera of Northern Asia. Issue 4. - M.: Partnership of Scientific Publications KMK, 2002. - P. 28. - ISBN 5-87317-115-7. - ↑ Kaabak L.V. Butterflies of the world. - M.: Avanta+, 2007. - 184 p. (The most beautiful and famous)
- Tuzov VK, Bogdanov PV, Devyatkin AL, Kabak LV, Korolev VA, Murzin VS, Samodurov GD, Tarasov EA Guide to the butterflies of Russia and adjacent territories (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera). Vol. I. (Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Satyridae). Sofia, 1997. 480 p.
- Dubatolov V.V., Kosterin O.E. 1999. Daytime lepidoptera (Lepidoptera, Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea) of the international reserve “Dauria” // Insects of Dauria and adjacent territories. Vol. 2. Proceedings of the State Biosphere Reserve "Daursky". - Novosibirsk. — P. 138—194.
- Dubatolov V.V., Mutin V.A., Novomodny E.V., Dolgikh A.M. 2010. Distribution limits of diurnal lepidoptera (Insecta, Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea) of the subboreal and southern representatives of the temperamental complex in the Lower Amur region // Amur zoological journal. T. 2. No. 3. P. 253-275.
Characteristics
A characteristic feature of the individual is that they almost never feed on the nectar of flowering plants. Their diet usually consists of overripe fruits.
It is the aroma of fermentation that attracts the attention of these insects. They can cluster around a tree in a large flock that is releasing fermented sap.
Most often, such liquid appears on damaged trunks.
It is worth noting that such butterflies were noticed when they feasted on birch sap. The surprising thing is that while eating fermented juice, insects completely lose their vigilance. They can sit on field weeds or flowers. In addition, such butterflies make up for the lack of microelements in their bodies from rotting remains and animal excrement. Such individuals simply need a huge amount of moisture. In other conditions, far from bodies of water, insects will not be able to survive. As mentioned earlier, birch sap is a real delicacy for mourners. As for caterpillars, in most cases they prefer food plants. Therefore, their diet is extensive. Caterpillars actively devour linden, alder, maple, hawthorn, rosehip, nettle, poplar and willow.
Admirals are also not only strict, but also beautiful
Another giant butterfly with the beautiful name Admiral lives on forest edges, meadows and fields. This is a day butterfly. It can be found on flowers and trees from early spring to late autumn. The color of the Admiral's wings is very similar to marble, but there is a distinctive feature - these are white spots on the upper wings, so you will not confuse her with anyone else.
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Nutrition
The caterpillar of the podalirium butterfly prefers to feed on hawthorn, peach, blackthorn, apple, plum, cherry, rowan and other plants. Butterflies prefer flowering shrubs, such as lilac in spring and umbelliferous inflorescences in summer; they also love honeysuckle, viburnum, and cornflower.
Alexanor
A very beautiful swallowtail butterfly with extremely fast, almost imperceptible flight. The body reaches thirty-two millimeters in length. The wings have clearly defined black stripes decorating the mottled yellow background, as well as a continuous blue band running along the hind wings. It lives in abundance in the southern part of Europe, loves flowering mountain slopes, especially thistles growing on them.
It feeds on a plant called “fennel” and does not disdain other Umbelliferae. Can be observed from April to July. It survives winter as a pupa. The appearance of the alexanor is similar to the swallowtail, however, the second one has a black color at the base of the wings, and the tails on the lower parts are longer.
Queen Alexandra's sailboat
The rarest butterfly found in nature, its habitat is limited to only one village in New Guinea.
The colors of the female and the male are strikingly different, and it is worth mentioning that it is the male of this species that is considered the most beautiful representative of butterflies.
The emerald blue color of the wings makes it a desirable exhibit in any collection.
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PINE WALKING SILKWORTH
Pine silkworm (Thaumetopoea pinivora)
- earned its name thanks to its love for collective travel, and it also loves pine needles, which it feeds on! In June, the silkworm moves mainly along pine branches and needles, huddling in groups when it gets colder, but towards the end of July - beginning of August it goes on a journey. Lined up with their relatives in long rows, literally marching along the earth, asphalt and other surfaces to get to a suitable, sandy place. After which they pupate by burying themselves in the sand.
Looking at the lifestyle of the traveling pine silkworm, it becomes clear that it can most likely be found among young pines, with less sandy soil. As the caterpillars grow older, they become more dangerous, and the caterpillars' outfit also changes. The hairs from the small fluff develop into a lush outfit, which, however, a completely mature caterpillar grinds, as it were, into special depressions in the body. As a result, dust from hairs is formed, causing itching and burning when it comes into contact with the skin and mucous membranes of a person! It’s not like touching here, it’s not recommended to be near such caterpillars!!! An allergic reaction from flying hairs invisible to the eye can manifest differently in different people! Usually, inflammatory processes are observed in the attacked areas of the skin; it becomes covered with red blisters that itch irresistibly! When it comes into contact with the face, the picture is most often accompanied by swelling, and the eyes may become swollen and closed. The inflammatory processes themselves can last for several weeks! If you are unlucky enough to develop an allergic reaction, you should consult a doctor immediately!
Pine silkworm caterpillar
Prince of Darkness - a terrifying name, but a beautiful content
The bottom photo is based on a photograph by the author: © Álvaro Rodríguez Alberich / flickr.
Peacock-eye Atlas or Prince of Darkness is one of the largest moths in the world, and its color is considered the most beautiful. The size of the butterfly is so large that in Taiwan their cocoons are used as a place to store small items or instead of a wallet.
The reddish-brown pattern on the wings looks very impressive. Once you meet her, you will never be able to forget her.
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Oleander Hawkmoth - Caucasian pride
This type of moth can be considered the most aesthetically beautiful and unusual. You can safely call them a masterpiece of natural art, because if you look closer at them, you get the impression that the butterfly’s wings were painted by a talented artist.
Those who visit the mountainous Caucasus, its habitat, will be lucky enough to see this butterfly.
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Classification
The classification of Lepidoptera is very complex and confusing, and is still constantly changing. The only constant is that there are nocturnal butterflies and those that are active only during the daytime.
In the simplest of schemes, they are all divided into four suborders:
Toothed moths. This includes the smallest individuals ranging in size from 4 to 15 mm; there are about 160 species. These include golden and marigold smallwings.
Proboscisless, with a wingspan of up to 25 mm. They have many similarities to moths. Fir cone moth and flour moth are representatives of this suborder.
The third species of these insects is represented by only one family - heterobatmyas.
The largest distinguished suborder consists of proboscis. It has more than 150 different species, which are included in dozens of families.
The individuals of this suborder are very diverse. This includes the family of Swallowtails (Swallowtail, Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, Glory of Bhutan), Nymphalidae (Admiral, Peacock's Eye, Wren, Mourning) and Hawkmoths. The armyworm family alone has about 35 thousand species.
