Bluebird butterfly - description, habitat, species

Thousands of butterfly species inhabit the planet. Any color, size and shape of the wings delight people. Myths and legends are attributed to butterflies, linking them with superstitions. For example, in ancient times these beauties were considered the souls of the dead, which is why they were so revered.

One of the most beautiful butterflies is the bluefish. This beauty inhabits the whole planet and prefers steppe or tropical terrain. It attracts the eye with rich colors and shades. It is impossible to describe a blue-eyed woman in several words, since it has many subspecies, and each of them has individual characteristics.

Appearance

Small size dove. Wingspan - from 2 to 4 cm, but in the tropics, it can reach 6 cm. Wide front wings. And on the back sometimes there is a thin tail.

Males and females are very different in coloring: males have brighter colors.In females, dark brown wings with yellow or orange spots at the edges, and in males, such inclusions are reduced or absent. On the wings of males a blue or bright red shade appears. The most common color is blue or blue. Also found red and brown.

In adults, 6 paws. In males, often the front pair is poorly developed. The body, head and eyes shaggy, bare are rare. Antennae of medium length.

The bluebird has many subspecies, each of which is characterized by an individual color.

Habitat

You can find it on the edge of the forest, near rivers or streams. Most often, the bluebird does not fly from one habitat to another, so it never leaves its home.

Lifestyle

Bluebird is a daytime butterfly, loves the heat and the active Sun. She spends the night in a quiet place. It looks like a gentle fairy creature, but it has a wayward character.Males love to get into fights for their habitat, attack strangers, butterflies of other species, and even little birds.

Bluebird, by its nature, periodically communicates with ants. With the help of microwaves, it is able to attract the attention of the colony and control the behavior of ants.

Caterpillars are frequent guests in anthills. They settle there and live in the winter. They feed on larvae of ants. Then there is a transformation into a pupa. A butterfly emerges from it in a month, which no longer needs to live in an anthill.

Diet

After the transformation, the blue cow has a certain amount of nutrients that the caterpillar in the form of a pupa has accumulated. However, it quickly ends and the insect needs to feed in order to grow and have offspring.

Like all types of butterflies, the bluebird prefers floral nectar, taking advantage of a slender proboscis. In addition, the diet of some subspecies includes nectar aphids, tree sap, rotting fruit and bird droppings.

Breeding method

For the year 1 individual produces 2 generations. The breeding season begins in late spring and continues throughout the summer.The insect undergoes a series of transformations, starting with the egg stage and ending with a full-fledged butterfly.

The caterpillar, which was born in the spring, grows and develops quite quickly. Summer individuals can become a butterfly only after 9-10 months.

According to the biological information, pigeons live very little compared to other species. A butterfly can live a maximum of 4 days.

Subspecies pigeon

This species has many branches. Each of them has its own characteristics in color. Describe all subspecies unreal. One can only consider the most common ones.

1. Bluebird greenish. It can be found in the southern and central region of Europe. This subspecies prefers to live near the mountain slopes. Its distinguishing feature is its miniature size. On average, the wingspan of a bluebird greenish does not exceed 2 cm. In the male, the back is light blue with a brown glimpse, while in the female the opposite is true - a brownish back with a blue glow. Below the wing is decorated with a snow-white stripe.
2. Bluefly Icarus. Lives throughout the European territory, despite the differences in climatic conditions. Loves hot and sunny weather. You can meet the butterfly in the steppe, the field and on the meadow.For the year brings 1 generation. The size is also small, maximum 2 cm. Males are blue-violet, females are brown. Each individual has a small spot at the bottom of the wings. According to him, biologists distinguish this subspecies from others.
3. Bluehead martsida. Lives in the Caucasus. The size of an individual does not exceed 15 mm. The outer side of the wing is olive-colored, which is poured in bronze, the inner side is gray.
4. Blue Pea It occurs most often in southern Europe, and in the spring it moves closer to the north. Habitat: meadow, garden and forest. Size does not exceed 18 mm. The main difference from other subspecies is the presence of short thin tails on the hind wings. Males of a blue-violet shade, female individuals ashy-black.
5. Bluebird steppe coal. Most individuals live on the territory of Russia, and especially in the Altai region. The size of each individual is a maximum of 14 mm. The color is dark brown, regardless of the sex of the individual. The wings are dotted with white patches. A little brown body.
6. Bluebird of heaven. Settled almost the entire European territory. Prefers to live in the mountains, meadows or forest glades. Wingspan reaches 3 cm.On the inner side of the wing there are black spots, which distinguish the blue sky from other subspecies. The males are blue-violet, the female is brown.
7. Bluefly Maleagr. Distributed in southern Europe. Loves sunshine and an abundance of flowers. Settled in hilly areas. In size it can reach 18 mm. Male and female individuals have a rich blue color of the wings. The edges are framed in black. The fringe of females is wider than that of males.