Butterfly Perlamutka - description, habitat, species

The content of the article

1 Description
2 Habitats
3 Distribution area
4 Subspecies
5 Lifestyle features
6 Breeding
7 Status
8 Video: Butterfly Pearl (Argynnis paphia)

Lepidoptera includes the largest number of individuals, among other insect associations. The variety of butterflies as a mosaic is made up of different species. A special place in it is occupied by the puzzle, represented by the nymphalid family. In a number of its other representatives, large forest pearls are distinguished, also called Paffia pearls. What are the main features of this species?

Description

A characteristic feature of the color of individuals is the division of the wings into two parts, the lower of which is painted in a light color with silver wavy lines that resemble a floral ornament. It is this iridescent decoration, resembling the nacre of sea shells, which gave the name to the species. In turn, the upper part has the color of the panther: an orange background with black specks of various shapes that are randomly scattered across it.In most cases, sexual dimorphism in mother-of-pearl is not pronounced. Only sometimes the nature of females bestows darker wings in color.

By the size of the pearl is considered large in comparison with other individuals of the family. Probably that is why in its name there is an indication of the value - a large forest pearl. It has strong wings, whose span reaches 7.5 centimeters. Such a physical warehouse allows butterflies to fly both far and high. It is known that individuals are able to fly up to a height of two thousand meters above sea level and live on it.

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Habitats

Forest edges, coastal zones of various water reservoirs, mountain slopes are considered to be the favorite place of Pafia pearl for the first time. A rare guest will be a butterfly of this species in an urban environment or near any human settlements, which is why it is difficult to meet it in parks or garden plots.

Distribution area

Large pearls widely settled in the zone of temperate climatic zone. Within its borders individuals can be found on the territory of Eurasia, as well as in the northern part of Africa.On the territory of Germany live pearl with a special dark color. Butterflies with a strong silver band live in Spain. Rarely butterflies settle in deserts or steppes. Identified by researchers, single representatives of the species in the steppes of the Caspian Sea are considered migrants.

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Subspecies

Scientists identify about fifteen subspecies settling in different areas of the main area of distribution of the insect. The main difference of each subspecies is the color of the upper part of the wing, the lower pearl part always remains the same. Cases of interspecific crossing, which resulted in healthy offspring.

Lifestyle features

Large pearl - day butterflies, the development of which occurs in the stages of complete transformation, characteristic of all lepidoptera. This means that at first a larva appears from the egg, the gnawing apparatus of which helps it to feed on leaves, then, gaining strength, the caterpillar becomes a pupa, and only after that the butterfly feeding on nectar, the adult insect, also called the imago, comes to light.

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Breeding

Males of large forest mother-of-pearl with the help of smell detect the females of their subspecies. In this they are helped by a special substance located on the wings of female individuals. After crossing, eggs are laid out, the number of which equals one hundred. Usually, butterflies attach them under the leaves, but in this case large forest nacres are very different from congeners in the order. They gradually leave the eggs on the trunks of the trees. How does this happen? The individual sits on a pine tree at a distance of one and a half meters from the ground, where it leaves one egg, then, flying up in a spiral, it moves higher in order to perform the same operation. She repeats this action on other trees. At the end of summer and at the beginning of autumn, larvae appear from the eggs. They have a unique color - a dark background, diluted with a yellow stripe. The whole caterpillar is covered with small scarlet thorns. Having survived the winter, she begins to actively eat the leaves, which helps her grow. The main food plant of the caterpillar is violets. In addition, individuals feed on leaves of apple or forest raspberries.At the end of spring, the enlarged larva turns into a pupa. In this state, it resides for about twenty days. At the end of the period, a beautiful butterfly is born. Imago lives four weeks.

Status

Researchers note that the population of large forest pearls on the territory of Russia is not exposed to threats of extinction. However, in the late nineties of the 20th century on the territory of the Smolensk region the species was listed in the Red Book.

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