Not all parents like it when children catch butterflies to pierce them with a pin and attach them to cardboard for collection. Such a “herbarium” makes one think: who grows up in a family - a future entomologist or a little sadist?
Keeping a butterfly as a pet is another matter. Why not? We will tell you how to care for a butterfly brought from the street and how to grow it from a caterpillar. And since the lifespan of these insects is short-lived, the deceased pet can be immortalized under glass with a clear conscience.
And yet, is it worth getting a butterfly?
Is it necessary to believe in such predictions?
If a butterfly flies into the house, it is a good omen. If you are thinking about whether to believe in superstition or not, then it is better to believe. Experts in the field of magic and psychologists say that a person is the architect of his own happiness.
If you believe in positive results, they will happen to you. If your thoughts are occupied by negativity, then you will bring trouble upon yourself. Signs about butterflies have always been classified as good news. Every person knows that if a butterfly flies into the house, the omen will bring good news.
Where do ladybugs live?
The distribution area of ladybugs includes all continents of the globe and all climatic zones, with the exception of Antarctica and areas covered with eternal snow. These insects can be found in all countries of Northern, Western and Eastern Europe: Sweden and Norway, Denmark and Iceland, Great Britain and France, the Netherlands and Germany, Italy and Poland, in all countries of the former Soviet Union. Insects fly over the expanses of India and Pakistan, Korea and Mongolia, China and Japan, as well as North and South America. They live in Cambodia and Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.
Some types of ladybugs prefer to inhabit only those plants on which a colony of aphids has developed, others prefer sedge and reeds growing along ponds and rivers as a home, while others need field grasses to survive.
Why do butterflies fly into the house?
Seeing hives breaking out at your front door in the fall is a fairly common occurrence. A butterfly flies into the house for several reasons.
- The houses are always warmer. The chocolate maker always flies to a person’s home in winter to warm up.
- She has a better chance of hiding from enemies.
- She is quite interested in what is happening in the home. She often knocks on the door because she is attracted by extraneous noises.
You can also interpret her action as a supreme sign of good news. In principle, you will be right. But it’s always worth remembering that there are a number of natural reasons for this behavior. And they are not always associated with folk signs.
Amazing creatures
Caterpillars and their butterflies are not always alike; the color does not at all match the color of the future moth. Some larvae have similar features - spots, streaks of identical color. Only specialists and obvious fans of these insects can determine from which caterpillars and which butterflies emerge.
Butterfly caterpillars, photos and names are presented below.
Peacock butterfly and its caterpillar
Bramea and its caterpillar on the left, cecropia and its larva on the right
Black swallowtail butterfly
Dalcerida and its caterpillar on the left, blue morpho and its larva on the right
Swallowtail and its caterpillar on the left, silkworm and its larva on the right
Do caterpillars that manage to survive to the pupation stage always turn into moths - yes. Transformation always happens. However, in nature there are other insects whose larvae are similar to caterpillars, but they are called worms. At the end of the development process, they are destined to turn into beetles, bees, flies, and wasps. Sawflies are very similar to the larvae of butterflies; they are called false caterpillars.
People never cease to admire some types of butterflies; they keep them in the house, creating favorable living conditions for them.
What does a butterfly bring to the house?
Quite often people ask questions about why a butterfly flies into an apartment. It doesn’t matter at all what size butterfly flew into the apartment. The only important thing is that it brings only positive omens. In the first case, if you see this insect in the house, then a wedding will soon take place. This can also be interpreted as a possible addition to the family or a problem-free birth. There is a fairly wide range of interpretations. You can interpret them depending on the current situation in your family.
The only time this insect can cause trouble is when it gets into a bachelor's house. This can only mean one thing. Soon a free man will get married, but his wife will be quite jealous, so you should not hope for a problem-free family life.
In most cases, if a butterfly flies into the house, then soon all the wishes of the residents will come true. But to fulfill it, you must catch her and quietly whisper to her your most cherished desire. It is important to remember that you need to catch it carefully so as not to damage it. Only after this can you let her go, and she will carry your desire on her wings to higher powers, which will contribute to its speedy fulfillment. It's a good sign if she leaves the room immediately.
Signs about butterflies are quite common. People believe that if a butterfly flies into a house and flutters around it, then soon a wedding will be celebrated in the house. If she just sits in one place, then you won't have much work to do. You will relax and enjoy life. It is likely that rare guests will come to you, whose visit you have long dreamed of. If a butterfly flies into the house through the door, the sign says that guests will come to you. You need to prepare for the fact that guests will bring a lot of positive emotions and improve your mood.
What to feed exotic insects
The basis of butterfly nutrition in nature is nectar. It’s easy to make your own delicacy that will appeal to tropical residents. To do this, sugar or honey is dissolved in water (in a ratio of 1 to 10). It is recommended to feed unusual pets once or twice a day.
Pour the sugar solution little by little - there are often cases when, while eating, insects get their wings dirty due to carelessness and then have difficulty flying. The butterfly must be carefully placed on the edge of the saucer. If she refuses the treat, try using a toothpick to gently untwist the proboscis and guide it into the syrup. After finishing the meal, the butterfly will fly away.
In addition to sugar syrup, insects like to feast on rotten fruits - apples, bananas, melons and oranges are suitable.
Caterpillars
The main goal in the life of a caterpillar is food.
They eat, as a rule, the green parts of plants, which are richest in nutrients. Others feed on fruits by sitting inside them, such as the well-known codling moth. And some have adapted to eat wood, wool and even wax. Caterpillars eat a lot. Their body weight can increase 50,000 times. Since the caterpillar's body covers do not stretch well, the larvae molt several times during their lives, completely shedding their old skin. Some caterpillars can feed only on one specific type of plant, while others can feed on a wide variety of plant species, such as the gypsy moth or the American white butterfly, which are capable of eating the leaves of more than 300 species of trees and shrubs. Many caterpillars are able to secrete webs made of protein through their mouths. Some do this in huge quantities, weaving a cocoon from silk or coarser fibers - chesuchi. To obtain silk thread, people have been raising silkworm caterpillars since ancient times. The cocoon made by the caterpillar unwinds, resulting in a thin silk thread up to 1.5 km long.
Nowadays, butterflies are bred not only for silk. The population of many tropical countries lives by breeding the largest and brightly colored species for the manufacture of various crafts, paintings, panels of wings, and boxes of dried butterflies. The auction value of some rare specimens can reach several thousand dollars. But most of the butterflies sold continue to be caught in the wild, which, together with the constantly shrinking natural areas of their habitat, leads to a decrease in the number of these beautiful and often useful insects.
Color varieties of insects bring different news
Signs about butterflies are also based on what color they will have. It is important to pay special attention to the colors of the feathered creature, because it can indicate many details of upcoming events. If your home or office was visited by an orange or golden insect, then pretty soon your financial situation will improve. Your wallet will be replenished with a large sum of money, and your position in society will rise significantly. You might even buy a car. The brown guest brings the same events. If it hits the window hard, then financial well-being will come very soon.
If a moth flies into the room, then a long life of peace awaits you, which no one can disturb. A white butterfly means that your social position will improve. If a guest arrives in your office and sits on the window, then your career growth will go up and you will be promoted. You can often see insects visiting the balcony. This is also a very good sign.
If a red butterfly is in the apartment, then it can bring changes to your personal life. It is a clear indication that a faithful companion will appear in your life and everything will become much better. If she fluttered around your house for a long time, then you will soon get married. The feathered beauty of pale shades brings happiness and success. Don't think that pale shades contribute to failure.
Dark colors of butterflies only bring bad news, especially a black guest. But there is a method to get rid of bad news. To do this, you just need to read the sacred words:
“A black guest flew in to see me and indicates to me that negative events will happen in my life. She appears in the window and begins to disturb me. But I, the servant of God (name), do not want to encounter them, and I am going to take the trouble away from myself. Let her fly away and take the negativity with her. She should never sit on my window, and she should never spoil my mood. Amen".
The benefits and harms of ladybugs
The gluttony of predatory ladybugs and their larvae has long been beneficial to gardens, vegetable gardens and crops of cultivated plants in many countries around the world. If a ladybug larva is capable of destroying about 50 aphids per day, then an adult ladybug can eat up to 100 aphids per day. To clear agricultural land of pests, populations of ladybugs are specially bred at special enterprises and, with the help of aviation, they are sprayed over fields and plantations infested with pests.
However, herbivorous species of beetles, living mainly in the subtropical and tropical regions of South and Southeast Asia, are capable of causing great damage to agricultural crops. In Russia, there are also several species of ladybugs that destroy potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sugar beets.
How to grow exotic insects without special kits
A rearing farm is not the only option, although it is much more difficult to obtain live butterflies without one the first time on your own. How to assemble a house for insects? For 2-3 caterpillars, a regular four-liter jar covered with gauze will become a farm.
Insects need fresh leaves daily. Their house needs timely cleaning. There are often cases of mold appearing in dirty jars, which is destructive for small residents. To make cleaning easier, place paper napkins at the bottom of the jar - replacing them will take a few minutes a day. Place long sticks into glass containers and wait for the caterpillars to climb on them. Transplant the insects into a previously prepared spare jar, and then clean out the house.
Before pupation, a stick must be placed in the container. The caterpillar will attach itself to it and remain suspended for several months. Maintain high humidity inside the house - use a spray bottle to do this. Keep an eye on the chrysalis at all times. You will see that shortly before the butterfly appears, it will change color - it will become lighter or, on the contrary, darker.
Growing a butterfly not from a caterpillar, but from a pupa, will greatly facilitate the process. Its cost is from 150 rubles.
It is recommended to create a garden for insects at home. Butterflies will love mint, parsley, dill, fennel, sage and lavender.
Methods of dealing with caterpillars
The appearance of caterpillars on plants does not bode well. These voracious insects can cause serious harm to a crop and even cause its death. In this case, at the first signs of their vital activity, it is necessary to take urgent measures to save the plants.
The following insecticides can be used to control caterpillars:
To prevent damage, you can use decoctions based on tobacco leaves, chamomile, onion peels, tomato tops, and yarrow. The smell of these plants can scare off flying individuals, and they will not be able to lay eggs.
Home care
Tropical guests need timely feeding and moistening of the wings using a spray bottle with water at room temperature at a distance of 30 to 40 cm. Due to the low humidity in the room, the antennae and legs of insects break. Therefore, in addition to a spray bottle, it is also recommended to use a humidifier.
A child over six years old can take care of butterflies hatched from pupae with their own hands. Such a gift will surprise and delight children and younger children, but they will need the help of their parents. In order not to harm the insect and increase life expectancy, it is important to consider the following points:
- Try to ventilate the room less often, avoid drafts and sudden temperature changes.
- When you leave the apartment, curtain the windows - butterflies at home hit the glass, which damages their wings.
- A chandelier with an open shade is one of the main enemies of butterflies at home. The moths fly in, but cannot get out.
- Make sure other pets don't harm your tropical guests.
Where did the name ladybug come from?
The ladybug received its scientific name due to its unusually bright color - the Latin word “coccineus” corresponds to the concept of “scarlet”. And the common nicknames given to the ladybug in many countries around the world speak of people’s respect and sympathy for this insect. For example, in Germany and Switzerland it is known as the “Virgin Mary’s bug” (Marienkaefer), in Slovenia and the Czech Republic the ladybug is called “Sun” (Slunecko), and many Latin Americans know it as the “St. Anthony’s bug” (Vaquita de San Antonio).
The origin of the Russian name for ladybug is not exactly known. Some researchers are inclined to believe that this is due to the ability of the insect, in case of danger, to secrete “milk” - a special poisonous liquid (hemolymph) that repels predators. And “God’s” means meek, harmless. Others believe that these insects received the nickname “ladybugs” because they destroy aphids and help preserve crops.
Butterfly farming business
Insects are bred not only for entertainment. It is not difficult to make money from an unusual hobby. Four common options are:
- Selling butterflies and pupae for home farms via the Internet. Make a website and fill it with information about the product. The cost of pupae starts from 150-200 rubles, depending on the type. The batch includes 15 insects. Think about packaging and delivery issues in advance.
- Organization of exhibitions and photo sessions. Fireworks are often bought for events - insects are released from beautiful boxes at weddings and other holidays. The cost of the service is from 2 thousand rubles. To organize an exhibition, you need to rent a room with an area of 20 square meters, create suitable conditions in it and “populate” it with several dozen exotic species. Tickets for such events are sold for 100-200 rubles.
- Sale of dried insects. A framed butterfly costs from 450 rubles to 20 thousand - the price depends on the type. Anyone can master the design of souvenirs.
- Rent butterflies for photo shoots. Photographers are willing to pay for the service from 500 rubles per hour.
It is not difficult to raise butterflies from pupae. This is a fascinating process that captivates both adults and children with equal force. Create the necessary conditions for insects, and then new exotic residents will soon appear in your apartment.
Which types to choose?
Keeping an insectarium at home involves breeding exotic species of butterflies. Especially if your goal is potential earnings.
The following types are suitable:
- Sailboat Polit - has an attractive contrasting color, length 8-10 cm.
- “Moon butterfly” - wings of a characteristic dark blue color, length is 8-10 cm.
- Graphium Agamemnon is a very active species, well suited for use at festive events.
- Kotzebue's sailboat is black with bright red splashes. Length – up to 10 cm.
- Danaid Chrysippus is a yellow-orange butterfly, 6-8 cm long.
- “Orange butterfly” - has an orange-white color, length is up to 10 cm.
- Caligo Atreus is brown or black with bright splashes of yellow and blue. The length ranges from 14 to 18 cm.
- Peacock-eye Atlas - different color options are possible: yellow, red, brown, etc. It can reach 26 cm in length.
