Butterflies are amazing creatures, sophisticated, fragile and delicate. Everyone is surprised by the variety of patterns and colors of these creatures. They are compared with unusual fluttering flowers. But even more people are surprised at how a caterpillar can transform into such a charming creature.
Taxonomy
Butterflies - this is one of 34 orders of the class of insects, belong to the type of arthropods and the kingdom of animals. Their number exceeds 350,000 species, among which there are both daytime and nighttime representatives.
The order of Lepidoptera, which includes these amazing creatures, is divided into many suborders. The classification is based on the shape of the wings of these insects. For convenience, it is customary to write the names of butterflies in Latin throughout the world.
general characteristics
During their development, these invertebrates go through four stages:
- Stage eggs. During this period, an adult insect lays eggs of a round or oval shape, which are located one at a time or in groups, depending on the species.
- The larval stage occurs after the emergence of the caterpillar from the eggs. 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. Both plant and animal organisms can be food for them. During this period, the size of the body of the insect sometimes increases even a thousand times. The larva passes several links.
- The pupal stage occurs after the larva has reached the required weight. Her body is covered with a thick shell, she stops eating and moving. After this, metamorphosis occurs, the process of restructuring the body. As a result, an adult butterfly is formed from a large gluttonous caterpillar of extraordinary beauty.
- The stage of the adult insect is the imago. It starts from the moment the shell breaks through. It was in appearance at this stage that the names of the butterflies were compiled. For example, a glass butterfly has got its name because of the transparent wings. The main function of the body at this stage is the resettlement and reproduction. Most representatives have a sucking mouth apparatus (proboscis) and are able to actively move. They have two pairs of wings, which are covered with modified bristles - scales.
The rarest representatives
Butterflies of the world and their names are amazing, each insect is beautiful in its own way. Unfortunately, recently the abundance of many species has been decreasing, and they require protection. A list of endangered species can be found in the Red Book of the World. It indicates the name of the butterflies alphabetically, a description of the habitat of each species and their approximate number.
Due to the deterioration of the environmental situation on the planet, such species have become rare:
- Apollo ordinary (Parnassius apollo). To the extinction of this representative, his poor ability to fly led to him, because of which he became easy prey for predators. The species is very sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and eats only in sunlight.
- Mnemosytes (Parnassius mnemosyne). Their black color caused the appearance of the second name of the butterflies - Black Apollo. The reason for the decline in numbers is poor ability to fly, capture, decrease in food supply and habitat.
- European Bramea (Brahmaea europaea). Today it is under protection, the cause of extinction is a small, limited habitat.
Record butterflies
Giant butterflies deserve no less attention:
- Titania agrippina - the largest representative of the order Lepidoptera. It leads a nocturnal way of life and eats cassia leaves. It lives in Mexico and South America. Both pairs of wings are wavy at the edges; their color varies from white to dark brown.
- Koscinoscere Hercules is the largest butterfly in the world that leads nightlife. The size of the female insect can reach 28 cm. These representatives are found in Australia and New Guinea. Large dimensions are not only imago, but also the caterpillar. Its length is 16-18 cm.
But even those insects that do not grow to large sizes are striking in their beauty. The names of butterflies with the smallest size should be considered:
- Acetosia lives in the UK. The wingspan and body length of only 2 mm. And even with such dimensions, it attracts attention with a bright color 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 is found in the Canary Islands.
- Ognevki. The wingspan is from 1 to 5 cm. And the shape of the wings and colors are the most diverse.
The meaning of butterflies
Like all animals on the planet, butterflies have both positive and negative meanings. Most species benefit by pollinating plants. Those representatives who eat weeds are used as a biological way to control them. At the same time, insects can harm agriculture by eating crop plants in the fields.
Many beauty connoisseurs of these insects create collections, each of them has plates that have the name of the butterflies and their description. These collections are used not only as souvenirs, but also for scientific purposes.