The meadow moth is a nondescript butterfly with enormous harmful potential.

It would seem that the meadow moth, in accordance with its name, should flutter on lawns and meadows. But no, the natural spaces do not attract him. The insect tries to stay close to agricultural lands and occupies plantations of sunflowers, sugar beets, legumes, cereals, vegetables, and melons. Polyphagous behavior, rapid reproduction, long-distance migrations and cyclical outbreaks of increased population growth place the meadow moth on the pedestal of the most dangerous and insidious pests of fields and vegetable gardens.

What does a meadow moth look like?

The meadow moth is a typical representative of the grass moth family. The habitat covers almost the entire forest-steppe zone of the post-Soviet space. The most favorable regions for development are those with a moderate, warm climate where precipitation is stable.

Appearance

The description of the meadow moth has much in common with its relatives:

• nondescript color of light brown or yellow shades;
• wingspan from 17 to 27 mm, when folded they have the shape of a triangle;
• the front wings are gray-brown with a yellow pattern;
• the darker hind wings are bordered by parallel stripes;
• forehead with a conical protrusion;
• thin thread-like antennae in females and serrated antennae in males.

Meadow moth butterflies exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. Females are larger than males and have a thick abdomen. In the latter, the body is thinner and longer; when you press on the abdomen, a brush of hair appears at the end, while in the female it looks like a fan.

The length of the eggs does not exceed 1 mm. Elongated shape. The color is yellowish with mother-of-pearl.

The hatched larva is transparent yellow or greenish in color. As they grow older, the color becomes more saturated and almost black. An adult meadow moth caterpillar grows up to 3.5 cm. Two stripes can be distinguished on the back, and elongated shiny lines on the sides. 8 pairs of legs provide the larva with good mobility.

The length of the pupa is 12 m. The color is light brown, becoming gray before the butterfly emerges. The cocoon is usually found in the soil and covered with lumps of dirt. On the top there is a special hole, slightly covered with cobwebs, from which a young moth will fly out.

Conversion process

Depending on the climate zone, as well as the type of insect, the process of degeneration can take from 2 days to 14 years. In our regions this process takes up to 2 weeks.

The transformation process itself is called metamorphosis, or more precisely, holometamorphosis, since the larva does not transform completely and some parts remain from it, mainly the paws. This term characterizes the complete transformation (degeneration) of forms, just as a glass or other forms are obtained from a melted bottle, which are radically different from the shape of the bottle.

Although the cocoon always remains motionless in appearance, quite complex and unique processes take place inside it. The caterpillar's body acquires a liquid consistency with imaginal discs, which essentially represent stem cells. These cells are unique in that they subsequently form various tissues and organs of the moth.

When the process is completed and the butterfly is already in the cocoon, it secretes a special substance that allows it to get rid of the cocoon. The head emerges from the cocoon first, then the body, and finally the legs. After birth, the butterfly sits motionless for some time and waits for its wings to dry. After which she goes on a journey to find herself a representative of the opposite sex. After mating, the butterfly will lay eggs, from which larvae will appear, etc.

Amazing transformation

Watch this video on YouTube

Subtleties of life

In the photo, the meadow moth is the cutest creature, looking at which you wouldn’t even think that it is a malicious pest and a menace to farmers. In principle, it is not the butterfly itself that is harmful, but its offspring. But first things first. Insects overwinter in the caterpillar stage in a cocoon, which reliably protects them from the negative influences of the external environment.

On a note! Overwintering larvae are very resistant to low temperatures and retain their vital functions at minus 30°C. However, in the spring they become susceptible to even minor frosts, which can kill them.

Individuals that survive the winter pupate. The first generation of meadow moths begins to fly at the end of April. In the northern regions, the time of departure of butterflies is noted in early June. Insects are active during twilight and night hours. Daytime is spent in the grass, under leaves. Meadow moths are very shy. At the slightest rustle they show a feeling of anxiety and take off.

Females need food to reproduce. Nectar serves as their food source. But there is one more nuance that affects the development of the population. If during the life of the meadow moth caterpillar there was not enough liquid in the diet, then the female may be infertile or produce few offspring. Drought can provoke insects to migrate.

Meadow moths travel long distances in search of food or moisture. Such migrations are called active. But there are also passive migrations, when moths move through air masses. The migration capacity of butterflies reaches 300-900 km.

Peacock-eye Atlas

It is worth noting that female Atlas Peacock-eyes are much larger than males. Individuals feed on leaves of bushes and trees. And like previous record holders, they lead a nocturnal lifestyle. They are especially active during twilight, early morning and late evening, which is why they received the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” And the best way to observe the largest butterflies in the world is not in person, but in photographs. However, residents of Russia can see the beauty without leaving the country - Atlas Peacock-Eyed is bred in the Moscow Zoo.

By the way, the Atlas Peacock-eye species itself is quite interesting. During mating periods, a male can detect a female at a distance of up to several kilometers. And the mating itself lasts several hours without interruption. Immediately after emerging from the pupa, both the male and female are ready to reproduce. Peacock-eyes are unusually patient; females can wait for their male for several hours, while sitting motionless in one place, while the male will look for her at this time. And it is precisely this process, that is, reproduction, that is the meaning of life for the largest butterfly in the world. By the way, the life of a female is quite short. She dies immediately after laying offspring.

By the way, in Taiwan, Peacock Eyes without knowing it benefit people. People use caterpillar cocoons as wallets.

The largest butterfly in the world amazes with its beauty. The winged individual can be colored in bright red, yellow, pink and brown shades. And on each wing of the butterfly there are large triangular transparent “windows”. The front wings have a rather bizarre curved edge, which in shape and color resembles a snake's head. This is what the Peacock Eye scares away insectivorous animals. By the way, in Hong Kong, for this unusual feature, Atlas was nicknamed “The Moth - the head of a snake.”

In addition to its size, Peacock-Eyes has one more feature - its mouth is completely atrophied. Throughout its short life (only 1-2 weeks), the butterfly does not feed on anything, but processes all the fat reserves that it accumulated as a caterpillar.

By the way, the caterpillars of the giant butterfly are also huge - they grow up to 10 centimeters in length. And their appearance is original - they are light green in color with large blue processes throughout the body, which are covered with a waxy white coating (similar to powder).

Peacock-eye Atlas is not only a beautiful, but also a useful butterfly. In India, it is bred on special farms where fagar silk is obtained. It differs from the silkworm product in its wooliness, strength and durability.

Reproduction nuances

Under the accompanying optimal conditions: availability of food, moisture, temperature from 20°C, sexually mature individuals begin to mate. As a rule, egg laying begins 5-7 days after the butterfly leaves the cocoon. The female places eggs on the inside of leaves, on weeds, stems, and less often on dry residue or soil, 5-20 eggs each, stacking them on top of each other, like tiles. The process of laying offspring lasts 1-2 weeks.

The fertility of a female meadow moth reaches 600 eggs and is determined by the quality of the caterpillar's diet. It has been noticed that, under the same meteorological conditions, those individuals that ate beets are more fertile.

At a temperature of 27°C and a humidity of 75%, embryonic development lasts from 2 to 15 days. In hot weather, when the thermometer is above 30°C and the humidity does not exceed 45%, almost half of the eggs die. The young larva of the first instar feeds on the tissues of leaves from the underside, forming peculiar “windows” on them.

Young individuals of the first instar do not touch cereal crops. If any caterpillar is tempted by corn, this will lead to its death. Older individuals, starting from the third instar, consume grains without harm to their health and these crops no longer pose a threat to their life.

Adult caterpillars unceremoniously eat various crops, the list of which includes 200 different types of vegetation. After their invasion, skeletonized leaves with visible veins and entwined with cobwebs remain. During mass invasions, cuttings are also eaten. Roots, shoots, and fruits are damaged.

The development and life of the meadow moth caterpillar depends on many factors. For larvae of the first instars, moisture is very important; at older ages, the need for nutrition increases. The larvae are distinguished by their mobility. In search of food, they easily overcome 50 meters; in forced situations, they migrate to longer distances.

The feeding of the larvae lasts about 15-30 days. After which they burrow into the ground, weave a cocoon and pupate. After 14-0 days, new butterflies appear, ready to mate and increase the population size. From 1 to 4 generations are possible per year. The larvae of the last generation go to the ground for the winter.

Winged pests in garden beds

Vegetables occupy a significant place in the human diet. The balance of our diet depends on their quality and quantity. And any summer resident always wants to get rid of butterflies in the garden in order to preserve the harvest in full.

Fall armyworm

With the onset of dusk, the active summer of the winter armyworm begins. To lay eggs, dark brown females choose plants in open spaces; butterfly clutches can be found on strawberries. During a season, one individual can lay up to 2000 eggs (10-30 eggs in one place).

The development of caterpillars takes 24-30 days, after which they burrow into the ground. By digging a depression up to 6 cm, they pupate. The second generation caterpillars also overwinter in the ground (up to 20-25 cm). After the soil warms up, they rise to the surface of the earth. Mass emergence of butterflies is observed in May.

Acacia moth (legume)

A light yellow butterfly with medium-sized fore wings (span - 25-30 mm), the hind wings are grayish in color. The female moth lays 100-600 greenish-yellow eggs. In 110-120 days of life, the acacia moth manages to make 2-3 clutches. After 4-21 days (depending on the generation), caterpillars with pink bodies and a yellow shield appear.

Depending on the air temperature and nutrition, the caterpillars develop within 20-40 days. Pupation occurs on the ground, sometimes caterpillars form cocoons at a depth of 2-5 cm, strengthening them with particles of earth. Moth moths appear after 12-15 days.

Onion moth

A small butterfly of light gray or chocolate color with wings measuring 11-15 mm. The female lays 60-80 eggs in the area of ​​the neck of the onion or on shoots. A week later, caterpillars appear, eating the inside of the onion.

After 15-20 days, pupation begins. During the growing season, usually 2-3 generations have time to mature. The age of onion moths is observed after 10-20 days.

Cabbage scoop

The spotted gray-brown wings of the cabbage cutworm reach a span of 35-60 mm. It flies mainly at night. At the same time, the female lays 40-60 (up to 700 per season) eggs.

Adult caterpillars (body size up to 25-30 mm) are ready for pupation. They make cocoons by burrowing 8-10 cm into the ground. In the spring, the butterfly flight begins.

Cabbage moth

The sickle-winged butterfly with wings of 15-18 mm causes great damage to field crops. The light brown female lays 100-300 eggs, grouping them in groups of 4-5. A week later, caterpillars appear, which molt 3-4 times during their development. In search of fresh greens, they can crawl into beds with radishes.

Adult caterpillars (body length - 11 mm) pupate, attaching a cocoon to the back of the leaf. The moth's flight begins in 35-40 days. During the summer season, (depending on the climate) from 2 to 10 generations of cabbage moths can develop.

Cabbage white (cabbage)

Large butterflies with powdery white wings (span up to 60 mm) and dark rims along the edges. The females have large black spots on their wings. Female individuals lay 100-300 ribbed, lemon-yellow eggs.

The voracious caterpillars appear on days 6-8; they often crawl onto neighboring plants. Before the butterflies emerge, they remain in the chrysalis for 8-17 days. During the summer season, 2-4 generations of cabbage may appear.

exclamation scoop

A large butterfly (body length 30-40 mm) with large brown-brown wings (span 32-45 mm). The color of the male is lighter - from yellow-brown to gray-yellow. At the top of the wings there are two round black spots, at the base there are wedge-shaped wide stripes, the outlines of which resemble an exclamation mark.

The female lays eggs on fallen leaves. The eggs are ribbed, translucent with a greenish tint (diameter 0.7-0.9 mm). After 12-14 days, yellowish-white caterpillars appear (the length of an adult is 30-40 mm). Over time they turn red. A black stripe stretches along the back, which forms small triangles on each segment of the caterpillar's body.

Yellow-brown pupae (cocoon length - 12-14 mm) are equipped with sharp spines, and there are two tubercles on the sides. They overwinter in fallen leaves or in the surface layers of the soil. The adult caterpillars (4th-5th generation) remaining for the winter can go deeper into the surface layers of the soil (up to 10 cm); the butterfly flight begins at the end of May.

Maliciousness

During mass dispersal, harm is caused by both adults and caterpillars. Numerous flocks of meadow moths become competitors to honey bees, which is not something any beekeeper can be happy about. The amount of honey in the hives is significantly reduced.

Caterpillars of the first generation eat weeds along roadsides, in ravines, and in forest belts. The voracious larvae of the second generation of the meadow moth infect sunflower, alfalfa, buckwheat, sugar beets and other agricultural and forest crops. Depending on the number of pests, the crop can be reduced by 50%, or even completely destroyed.

On a note! The threshold of harmfulness of the meadow moth on sunflower is 10 caterpillars per 1 sq. m in the seedling phase up to 6 leaves. During the flowering period, the figure increases to 20 caterpillars per square meter. m. A similar threshold of harmfulness is typical for sugar beets. Only what is taken into account is not the flowering, but the closing of the leaves.

The larvae with an insatiable appetite destroy all vegetation in their path. In their gluttony they are not inferior to locusts. It is also noteworthy that, like the latter, the meadow moth is characterized by an outbreak of mass reproduction, which occurs cyclically with an interval of 10-12 years. It has not yet been possible to unravel the reasons for this phenomenon. It is possible that some of the main factors are climatic conditions, mass migrations of the meadow moth, and solar activity. Interestingly, the ability to migrate helps butterflies to avoid natural enemies and parasitic individuals.

Features of biology

The lifespan of adults is 4-20 days. Butterflies are active at dusk. One generation develops in the Non-Black Earth Zone; two generations - in forest-steppe and northern steppe regions, in Siberia and the Far East; three or four generations develop - in the southern steppe regions, in the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia.

The flight of butterflies is observed at different times depending on the area of ​​the range and is often extended: adults of the overwintered generation fly in May-June, the first generation in June-July, the second generation in July-August, the third and fourth generations in August-September .

Nutrition of larvae

The way moth larvae look does not affect the nutrition of the moth in any way: although they are very small, they are capable of eating a lot. In nature, moths eat bird feathers in nests, animal fur, grain crops, berries, nuts, and vegetables.

Getting into human housing for moths is the same as hitting the jackpot for a person, since the conditions here are incomparable to natural ones: a comfortable temperature is constantly maintained, and there is always plenty of food. Therefore, on the shelves of our cabinets you can find much more larvae than live in natural conditions.

Among the pests there are those that are not interested in clothing, furniture and food. Among such insects is the wax moth, which spoils honeycombs. And some species that settle in anthills destroy the larvae of the home owners.

Very often, insect species change their “specialization.” This does not mean that the larvae of food moths will begin to snack on the cabinet, but having spoiled all the rice, they are quite capable of switching to flour or cookies. Likewise, a clothing moth, “tired” of chewing a fur coat, is able to move to the carpet or to a shelf with woolen items. In particularly difficult times, moths can even survive on semi-synthetic clothing. It is the omnivorous nature of the larvae that is the reason for their high survival rate. In order to preserve things and products, it is necessary to start fighting the emerging pest as early as possible.

How to get rid of moths and their larvae?

Both traditional recipes and chemical preparations will help you get rid of moth larvae. Many housewives take advantage of the fact that moths are quite sensitive to temperature changes. Knowing at what temperature moths die, you can treat things and products to destroy pests.

Adults die at a temperature of -2⁰С, moth larvae at -10⁰С. If we talk about high temperatures, readings of +40⁰С are destructive for imagoes, and +50⁰С and higher for larvae.

Attention! Washing things in hot water or treating them with a steam generator, or heating the cereal in the oven will help get rid of pests. Another option is to take things out into the cold in winter and put the food in the freezer so that the insects freeze and die.

You can fight moth larvae using insecticidal preparations, such as:

• sprays;
• gels;
• emulsions.

Fumigators and traps are also used.

Attention! Strong odors are what moths and their larvae are afraid of. Therefore, folk remedies for pest control are essential oils, plants, and herbal decoctions.

The most commonly used insect repellents are:

• dried citrus peels;
• essential oils (eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, mint, grapefruit, fir, orange);
• herbs (wormwood, rosemary, tansy);
• ammonia, vinegar.

Attention! Moth larvae cannot tolerate sunlight. In order to get rid of them, things can be taken outside or onto the balcony in clear weather.

Habitat

Night moths live in almost all corners of the globe, both on continents and on oceanic islands. The only exception is Antarctica, where the climate is too harsh for these gentle creatures. Most often, moths can be found at night near the place where there are food plants suitable for a particular species.

By the way, not only what the moth eats depends on its habitat, but also how long it lives. In regions with cold and temperate climates, insects often live shorter lives than in the tropics, although life expectancy is primarily determined by species. The presence of natural enemies also affects this period. Among those who eat moths:

• birds;
• insect predators;
• insectivores.

Moths can be found not only on the plains, but also in the mountains. Insects can exist at altitudes of up to several thousand meters above sea level.

Scoop eggs

What do they look like?

The eggs are spherical or hemispherical in shape. The top is rounded, the bottom is flattened. The diameter varies from 0.4 to 0.9 mm. The color is most often light - it can be white, cream, light yellow, greenish, blue, pale brown.

The surface is usually ribbed and shiny, sometimes cellular. As they develop, the eggs may darken and change color. For example, bollworm eggs become almost black shortly before the larva emerges.

See photo for what cutworm eggs look like.

Where does it go?

The female hides the eggs, placing them on the ground, in plant debris, on the inside of leaf blades of food or weed plants. The shape of the masonry is irregular and asymmetrical. May be in the form of spots, winding rows and lines.

For additional protection, the female covers the eggs with her own hairs and scales or secretions of special glands.

What is the quantity in the clutch?

Female cutworms are famous for their fertility for good reason. One adult produces from 2 hundred to 3 thousand eggs during its short life. She lays eggs daily, placing them singly or in groups. A clutch can include from 2 to 150 eggs. The quantity depends on the type.

For example, the cabbage cutworm lays a clutch of 100 eggs, and the gamma cutworm lays eggs one or two at a time, with a maximum of 5.

Mineral salt diet for offspring

It is worth noting that salt and minerals are especially important for males during the mating period. Without these elements, the mating season may not produce offspring. However, butterflies are able to replenish their reserves without feces or human sweat. In their absence, they obtain salt and minerals from dirt, the most common, for example, from puddles.

Organic Gardening - Product Database

Food sources for nest boxes and habitats

These nutrients are transferred from male to female during the process of copulation. They make the eggs laid stronger and transmit the necessary genetic information

And this is very important. That is why in warm weather, when puddles dry up, many male butterflies of various species accumulate around the puddles and replenish their reserves of salt and minerals

A butterfly feeding station also ensures that more butterfly species visit your garden. You'll be amazed at how many different species there are in your area that you didn't know about. If you now feel like equipping your garden with such a feeding station, you can either buy a ready-made one or make it yourself. In this article, we have a simple guide through which you can make the perfect feed from a few items that you have mostly even in your house.

Ways to protect yourself from enemies

The moths of Russia, and all others, are created by nature in such a way as to have protection from ill-wishers.

A list of defense mechanisms of moths is presented below.

Construction of shelters: different subspecies of moths organize similar protective structures for themselves. For example, caseworms and bagworms. The caterpillars of these moths, some time after hatching, build houses around which they attach pieces of foliage and various debris.

These shelters are designed in a special way so that the larva protrudes from them just enough so that in case of danger it can quickly hide inside. The house grows with its owner, at least until she grows up and becomes a pupa (this size is approximately 4-5 cm). After the allotted time, the butterflies come out, but only if we are talking about males. The females stay in these houses longer, until they are fertilized by the male and lay eggs.

Defensive body structures, including hairs and glands, are also defense mechanisms for moths. Do moths bite, having such a formidable weapon? The answer is obvious: only if necessary.

Many caterpillars have a series of bristles or hairs that can burn with poison hidden in the skin glands. During an attack, a dangerous mixture is sprayed from the tip of the bristles, which irritates the skin of the enemy.

In addition, insects use the following means of protection:

• glands in the larvae, with the help of which they cover their own bodies with a liquid that repels approaching predators;
• individual individuals begin to actively move when the enemy approaches, or pretend to be dead, or curl up into a tight ball;
• the larvae, at the moment of approaching danger, can fall from the branches on which they live, hanging on thin silk threads (the individual returns back along the same thread, slowly moving along it with its legs located on the chest and oral appendages);
• hawk moths have dorsal growths that look like horns, which they point towards approaching danger;
• insects can defend themselves with the help of long, prickly hairs covering their body.

The pupae of moths, so helpless in appearance, also have mechanisms to protect themselves from a sudden enemy attack:

• pupae living in the soil are colored in colors that make them invisible;
• moths weave silk cocoons (in the silkworm, such shelters can have up to three layers - loose, dense and filmy), in which they hide from attacks by predators.

Stages of development

The larvae hatch from tiny eggs after a week-long developmental stage. They are already millimeters long and have eight tiny legs on a white body with a yellowish head. As they feed, their size increases to almost twenty figures! And upon reaching the age of one month, the moth larvae turn into dolls, approximately one and a half centimeters in length.

An adult pest enters the beehive during daylight hours. But it conducts its guerrilla activity of laying eggs exclusively at night. The bees independently fight against the occupying invaders, and without much effort. But in just a few hours the number of such parasites becomes quite large, so here and there some people are still overlooked.

However, such pests are used to make useful extracts that have no less healing power than bee products.

Prevention of occurrence

Preventing moths is easier than trying to deal with existing pests. For prevention purposes, you should follow a few simple rules:

• do not make too large stocks of cereals, pasta, nuts and other products that moths feed on;
• Store bulk products and dried fruits in hermetically sealed glass or metal containers;
• regularly ventilate wardrobes with clothes and kitchen cabinets; it is very advisable to ensure that sunlight enters the wardrobe (you can use an ultraviolet lamp);
• Before storing seasonal items, they must be washed or dry cleaned.

Also, for prevention, you can have geraniums at home, and place sachets with herbs that repel pests or special anti-moth tablets on the shelves of the cabinets.

Reasons for the appearance of the house

A moth cannot appear out of nowhere. There are several main ways pests can enter a house or apartment:

• food moths can be brought with contaminated products (there may be eggs or larvae of the pest in flour or cereal);
• Moths can be contaminated with used furniture, carpets, and second-hand clothes;
• the insect can also get into the house on new clothes if pests live in the store or warehouse;
• through the ventilation duct from the neighbors.

Another option is that moths fly in from the street through a window. However, given that insects do not fly well, such cases are extremely rare.

Crop protection system

Measures protecting agricultural crops from damage caused by the meadow moth and its larvae must take into account the destruction of both local individuals developing in the field and emerging butterflies from outside.

Developing local pests are best destroyed using agrotechnical measures, supplemented with chemical and biological preparations. The vagrant meadow moth on corn and other crops is mainly exterminated by chemical means.

In order to make the right decision regarding the measures to be applied, periodic assessment of the phytosanitary situation is necessary. It is best to do this in the fall, during the period of field survey, and again during the flight of butterflies. During the period of mass reproduction, the ecological situation and population size of the meadow moth should be carefully monitored.

High fertility of females occurs when environmental conditions are as close as possible to ideal for this type of parasite: hot daytime temperature (about 25º C), good air humidity (more than 65%), periodic rains and a lot of nectar plants.

During the egg-laying period, it is advisable to constantly weed and mow weeds, as well as loosen the soil between the rows to reduce the number of eggs laid. If the flight of adult individuals exceeds 5 pieces per step, the use of insecticidal and biological compounds is necessary.

Signs of infection

At first, it is not so easy to determine that moths have appeared in the house. But over time, as the number of pests living in the apartment grows, traces of their presence appear more and more clearly. The presence of a moth is indicated by the following signs:

• small holes with uneven edges appear on clothes;
• larvae can be found in flour and cereals;
• in cabinets where moths live, you can see cobwebs, remains of cocoons, and waste products.

If gray moths begin to appear in the room, moving chaotically in the air, this is a sign that there are already quite a lot of insects.

Folk remedies for fighting butterflies

You can also destroy or repel garden pest butterflies using harmless homemade products.

What do moth larvae eat?

The diet of a moth larva is determined by its species. In nature, larvae feed on animal hair, bird feathers, vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, and grains. A food moth larva living in an apartment can eat:

• flour;
• cereals;
• bran;
• cereals;
• legumes;
• pasta;
• cookie;
• nuts and seeds;
• dried fruits;
• candies and chocolate.

As for other species, that is, the larvae of clothes, fur, carpet and furniture moths, they feed on:

• natural fabrics (cotton, wool, linen, silk);
• fur;
• synthetic fabrics, if they contain natural fibers.

Even though the larva is tiny and eats very little, a large colony of parasites can cause serious damage to things.

Interesting Facts

Zoology is studied at school; teachers provide a lot of different information about insects. But there are some facts about butterflies that are not mentioned in textbooks. Children will be interested in:

• the science of butterflies is called lepidopterology;
• the largest representative is Attakus Atlas, its wingspan reaches 30 cm;
• over the course of her entire life, the female lays about a thousand larvae;
• males live less than females;
• insects distinguish only three colors - red, yellow and green;
• They have no hearing; instead, they sense air vibrations with their antennae.

In Europe, butterflies are admired for their beauty and fragility, and in Asia they play the role of a delicacy. A greenhouse has been set up in Stockholm and everyone is invited to undergo therapy with these insects. Some species feed on the blood of animals, but most lepidopterans are vegetarians.

There are several individuals that need to eat toxic substances for normal development. Birds that feed on them die immediately. Butterflies eat twice their weight in food. Some species have no mouth and do not feed after turning from a caterpillar. Instead, they spend the energy that they accumulated during the preparatory period. Insects can eat rotten fruits and manure, and drink animal tears.

The butterfly's taste buds are on its legs. Therefore, they first walk on a flower or fruit, and then apply their proboscis to it. Insect eyes are made up of 6,000 microscopic lenses. They do not have a heart, veins or arteries; instead, there is a vessel in the abdomen with a tube that goes to the head.

Peacock eye caterpillar: description

The black caterpillar is the larva of the peacock butterfly. In appearance, it resembles a hives butterfly caterpillar. At the same time, the peacock eye caterpillar is no less interesting and beautiful than the butterfly itself. Long, needle-shaped processes of the same color grow throughout the black body. If you look closely, the entire body of the caterpillar is covered with not large, but numerous tubercles. The color of the caterpillar does not even closely resemble moths.

The caterpillar of this moth has a well-developed oral apparatus, as well as a digestive system, which provides the caterpillar with a continuous process of processing food. Thanks to this fact, the caterpillar grows and develops quite quickly.

It is born with very small dimensions (only 1 mm). The development period is about 6 weeks. During this period of development, the caterpillar molts up to 4 times. Its chitinous cover is very durable, and its black color does not allow one to see the food inside the caterpillar, which cannot be said about other types of caterpillars. The caterpillar's body is armed with legs, which allows it to move along the stems and leaves of plants.

In the photo below you can see what a peacock eye caterpillar looks like.

Reproduction process

The female butterfly overwinters in various shelters. These could be cracks in wooden buildings, forest floor, just piles of garbage, etc. When spring comes and favorable conditions are created, the female leaves her shelter and lays about 300 eggs of a light green hue. She forms colonies of them on the underside of nettle leaves.

The first breeding stage begins in mid-spring and ends in May. If weather conditions permit, the subsequent breeding stage begins in mid-summer and ends in August. Around mid-autumn, butterflies emerge from the caterpillars, after which the butterflies look for places to spend the winter. An adult female, after laying eggs, lives no more than 3 weeks, and males even less.

Larval development process

Somewhere, after 4 weeks, if conditions are favorable, the peacock butterfly caterpillar completes the next stage of development. As a rule, the butterfly lays eggs on nettle leaves, so the emerging larvae feed on the greenery of this particular plant. They are found on plants in groups, and they occupy the entire plant. This caterpillar is also found on other plants. For example:

• On the willow.
• On raspberries.
• On ordinary hops.
• On hemp.

After 4 weeks, the caterpillars turn into pupae. The caterpillars remain at the pupal stage for up to 2 weeks. The color of the pupae depends on which part of the plant the pupae are attached to.

During the pupa stage, unique processes take place inside the pupa, as a result of which one of the most beautiful butterflies on the planet emerges from an unpleasant caterpillar.

Caterpillar sabotage

At no stage of its development is this insect capable of causing serious harm, especially to cultivated plants, since it prefers to settle on burdocks, thistles, thyme, scabioses, etc. Butterflies can often be seen on garden and ornamental plants, where they perform pollination.

The main source of food for the caterpillars is nettle, which is simply abundant everywhere. The only cultivated plant that can suffer from caterpillar infestation is raspberries.

Black caterpillar of the Peacock butterfly, Larva of European peacock

Watch this video on YouTube