What different types of butterflies look like. The most beautiful butterflies in the world
Most people associate butterflies with summer and flowers. There is no person in the world who has never seen this miracle of nature. And many are interested in the question: “What types of butterflies are there and how many families do these beautiful creatures consist of?”
This article will answer all questions.
All about butterflies
Butterfly- This is an insect of the arthropod type, the order Lepidoptera.
The ancient Slavs believed that butterflies were inhabited by the souls of the dead, so they treated these insects with respect. special respect.
Appearance and structure
The butterfly consists of two sections:
- Body covered with a chitinous layer.
- Two pairs of wings, which are covered with scales and penetrated with veins in the transverse and longitudinal direction. The pattern on the wings depends on the species. The wingspan, depending on the species, can be from 3 mm to 310 mm.
Body structure:
![](https://i2.wp.com/zveri.guru/images/265574/volshebnyi-mir-babochek.jpg)
The appearance of a butterfly can serve to protection insects from enemies. Indeed, thanks to their coloring, some butterflies blend in with environment and become invisible.
Types of butterflies with brief characteristics
Butterflies number more than 200 families; only a small part of the most popular ones are listed below:
Belyanki:
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Cocoonworm family
Butterflies belonging to this family are large or medium in size. The body is powerful, covered with villi. This family is more reminiscent of moths than butterflies. The front wings are larger in size compared to the hind wings. The antennae look like brushes. They live in groups woody plants. Some species are very harmful to forestry.
![](https://i0.wp.com/zveri.guru/images/265580/kokonopryad-sibirskii.jpg)
Blueberry family
Has more than 5 thousand species, some of which are listed in Red Book. All species of this family small size with bright colors. Males are brighter in color than females. The color depends on the species and can be bright blue or brown. For example, the Blueberry Icarus has a bright blue color.
A distinctive feature of all bluebirds are the spots located on the lower wings. Blueberries do not harm, and sometimes even bring benefits by scaring away pests.
Parsley family
This family contains more than 1200 species. Most species can be found in tropical countries, but a small part lives in Russia. Pieds have interesting coloring. On a shiny black or dark blue background there are spots of bright red or bright yellow color. But there are also species with a monochromatic color.
The appearance of an insect warns that it poisonous and when threatened, releases a toxic liquid with a pungent odor. In its size, the butterfly can reach up to 50 mm in length. Mainly diurnal, but occasionally found at night. It feeds on legume leaves.
Volnyanka
These butterflies greatly harm forestry. There are more than 2700 species. The butterfly is of medium size. One of the most famous species is gypsy moth
. This insect received this name due to the significant differences in the sizes of the male and female.
For example, males have a wingspan of 45 mm, while females have a wingspan of 7.5 cm. Males are also much darker than females. In male representatives, the wings are dark brown with black transverse waves. The female is gray-white with dark waves.
Butterflies have a velvety texture and black color with a spread of 50–60 mm. There are white spots at the corners of the front wings, which are separated by a red stripe. The same stripe is located on the edge of the lower wings.
A beautiful European insect that leads a diurnal lifestyle. The wingspan is 150 mm. The entire color is red-brown with a bizarre pattern similar to a peacock's eye. There is one spot in the corners of the upper wings.
And on each lower wing there is one black spot, in the middle of which there is another blue spot. These spots that resemble eyes scare away enemies butterflies.
Marigold
The color of this diurnal butterfly is quite modest. It has a brown or red color with a pattern of white and black rings. It feeds on grasses from wild plants and loves shade.
Swallowtail belongs to the family sailboats and is listed in the Red Book. Coloring happens different colors, but the most beautiful is the swallowtail, whose color is yellow. A wide band is visible on the wings black line with moon-shaped spots along the edges. The hind wings have an elongated tail of blue color with yellow-blue spots. There is a red spot in the corner of the lower ones.
There are many more species that one could talk about endlessly and write several volumes of books. This article shows only the smallest part of them.
Man is considered the master of our planet. But the world around us is so multifaceted and diverse, and is inhabited simply a huge amount living organisms. Quite often we don’t even notice or know about the existence of many of them. It is known that today biologists have described about one and a half million various types living organisms. Of these, about two thirds are insects.
Butterflies are representatives of the order Lepidoptera
Insects do not always look attractive, but among these representatives of the fauna there is a rather interesting and original order. It's about about butterflies. Butterflies are representatives of the class of insects such as arthropods. IN general classification Butterflies form a whole order called Lepidoptera.
There are quite a few representatives of the order Lepidoptera, and most of them have not been sufficiently studied. It is believed that today the planet is inhabited by about two hundred thousand species of butterflies. Moreover, approximately only half of them are known species butterflies. Butterflies inhabit all continents except Antarctica.
Of the entire diversity of these insects, only about five thousand are distributed on the European continent. The rest are occupied by tropical forests. Considering the nature of the climate and the fact that the main purpose of butterflies is pollination of plants, it is in tropical forests the most striking and diverse representatives of the order Lepidoptera are found.
Butterflies are quite ancient creatures. Fossil remains suggest that these insects have inhabited the Earth since the Jurassic period.
Butterflies are insects. What do they have in common with this type and what are the differences? Similar features include the following:
- the body of moths is made up of segments and covered with chitinous “skin”;
- the articulated limbs of butterflies consist of three pairs;
- Lepidoptera, like the vast majority of insects, have a proboscis.
The main difference between this squad is the presence scales that cover the body and wings. There can be about one hundred thousand of these scales on the body of one butterfly. They are the ones who form color scheme and features appearance. Scales can be pigmented and determine the color of a particular individual, as well as optical, the purpose of which is the refraction and reflection of light.
Classification of butterfly species
When classifying butterflies, various approaches and criteria are used. It takes into account what types of butterflies are known. For example, they can be distinguished by lifestyle at night and day. They differ from each other in body and color.
- Day butterflies quite common large sizes, there are simply huge ones. Birdwings or Queen Alexandra's Swallowtails have a wingspan of 32 centimeters.
- Among moths You can highlight the Death's Head butterfly, which weighs 9 grams and has an original design.
In addition to their lifestyle, butterflies can be distinguished by the number of representatives of the species. Very common in nature common species, for example, the Burdock, which, in addition to South America, lives on all continents, and rare moths, of which there are almost a few. An example is Apollo vulgaris, Mnemosyne and others.
Among specialists, it is considered the most objective division of butterflies into 4 suborders. What types of butterflies are there? Let's look at them in more detail.
1) Primary toothed moths. This suborder is characterized by small body size and small wings (4-15 mm). This suborder oral apparatus gnawing appearance. A distinctive feature is the large antennae. Their length is up to 75% of the dimensions of the front wings. This family is represented by 160 species of butterflies. Representatives of the family include:
- golden smallwing;
- marigold smallwing.
2) Proboscis butterflies. These insects are quite similar to the previous suborder. Distinctive external features These individuals are wings covered with microscopic scales of cream or black color and no larger than 25 mm in size. This suborder includes the following representatives:
- flour moth;
- spruce cone moth.
3) Heterobathmya, represented by one family.
4) Proboscis butterflies. This suborder is the most numerous. It includes several dozen families and has more than 150 thousand species. This suborder is characterized by a variety of representatives: their appearance and size. Let's look at several of the most characteristic families of proboscis butterflies.
- Family Sailboats. Representatives of this family are quite large with large wings (from 50 to 280 mm). These individuals have an original pattern on the wings, consisting of spots of various sizes in black, red or blue color. The most striking for this family are the Swallowtail butterfly and the Swallowtail "Glory of Bhutan".
- In the next family of butterflies characteristic feature wide angular wings without thickened veins, variegated colors and various patterns serve. This is a family Nymphalidae. Individuals of this family have wings ranging in size from 50 to 130 mm. Typical representatives include the Admiral butterfly, the Day Peacock butterfly and others.
- Family Hawk Moths. These are night butterflies. They have narrow wings no more than 13 cm and a special pattern. The body of such butterflies has a spindle-shaped shape. Hawkmoths include: Oleander Hawkmoth, Death's Head Hawkmoth and others.
- Another large family of moths is the family Scoops. There are more than 35,000 species. The width of the wings of these individuals is on average 35 mm, and their color is gray with a metallic tint. However, this family includes a number of rather exotic specimens, for example, Tizania agrippina lives in South America and is the size of an average bird.
These are the types of lepidopteran insects.
Butterflies are quite extraordinary and mysterious representatives of the fauna. There are a number of beliefs associated with them. For example, among some peoples it is customary to ask a butterfly for rain, because it flies high and can convey the request directly to the “heavenly office.” Another belief: a butterfly that flies into a home is perceived as a symbol of good luck and family well-being. In South America, moths are protected from fire, considering them to be harbingers of positive changes in life.
That's how they are - butterflies. Mysterious and bright, interesting and not fully studied.
- The wings are painted so unusually that it cannot be confused with any butterfly in the world. Externally, the male and female are very similar to each other.
The range of the daytime peacock's eye covers all of Europe (except for the northernmost regions) and the temperate latitudes of Asia.
Butterflies overwinter in basements, attics, in caves... Overwintered individuals fly in March - May, and a new generation appears in July - August.
The butterfly got its name because of the bizarre spots in the lower corner of the wings, which are similar to the shape of the eye. In general, the color of a Peacock's eye varies from bright red to deep red. Brown. All this is artistically diluted with black with beautiful patterns and stripes.
There is also a nocturnal Peacock eye, which differs from its relative in darker colors and brown spots. Its outstretched wings reach up to 15 centimeters in length. At night the Peacock's eye is very reminiscent bat than a butterfly.
Apollo
A diurnal butterfly, listed in the Red Book. The butterfly is found in the Urals, Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains. One of the reasons for this choice of area is its feeding habits; Apollo prefers thickets of sedum and hare cabbage, which are found mainly in mountainous areas.
The butterfly has a bright, beautiful color and is clearly visible on open area. Apollo is easily recognized by his large wings with black and red spots. Depending on the location of the spots, more than 600 forms of this species are distinguished.
The butterfly can be found from June to August. Apollo flies slowly, imposingly, often gets tired, and sits on flowers.
Apollo is a real “sissy”, the butterfly needs good conditions external environment in order to survive. Bright sun and an abundance of food are among the most necessary.
Admiral
Adult white admirals have black wings with white stripes. This color contrast helps to “break up” the wing line, thereby camouflaging the butterfly from predators. Their wingspan is approximately 60-65 millimeters. The flight is very interesting, elegant, consisting of short periods swings followed by a long soar.
Red Admiral. This is a well-known brightly colored butterfly. This species constantly lives more warm places, but migrates north in the spring, and sometimes back in the fall. This large butterfly is easily identified by its striking dark brown, red and black wing pattern. Caterpillars feed on nettle leaves, while adults drink nectar from the flowers of plants such as buddleia (which is also called a butterfly bush because of this) and can feast on overripe fruits.
IN northern Europe this is one of the last butterflies that can be seen before the onset of winter: it appears near a weak light and feeds on the nectar of autumn flowers in warm days. The red admiral is also known for the fact that when it overwinters, it becomes darker in color than individuals that have not yet experienced winter. The butterfly can also fly out on sunny winter days, for the most part this applies to southern Europe.
Mourning maid
For many people, their first childhood impressions of butterflies were formed when they met a large, spectacular, memorable mourning plant. And for some future entomologists these impressions turned out to be so strong that they determined their subsequent choice of profession.
With predominance dark color On the wings of the mourning box its names are associated in other languages. So. Americans call it mourning cloak, and the French call it deuil - “mourning”, “sorrow”. Perhaps this was also taken into account by K. Linnaeus, who in 1758 named the butterfly antiopa - after the daughter of the Theban king Nikteus, who, even by the standards of ancient Greek myths, had to endure a lot of troubles and suffering.
“Dark coffee-colored, shiny, varnished, its wings seem velvety due to the abundance of colored dust, and towards the very belly or body they are covered as if with moss or thin hairs of a reddish color. The edges of the wings, both upper and lower, are trimmed with a pale yellow, fawn, rather wide jagged edge, cut out with scallops... and along the fawn border, on both wings, there are bright blue spots... "S. T. Aksakov
Hives
Specific epithet scientific name, urticae, comes from the word urtica (nettle) and is explained by the fact that nettle is one of the food plants of the caterpillars of this species.
Males differ little in color from females. The wings are brick-red above, with a number of large black spots, separated by yellow spaces at the costal margin; at the apex of the fore wing there is a small White spot. The basal half of the hind wing is brownish-brown, the outer half is brick-red, there is a sharp boundary between these areas. Along the outer edge of the wings there is a row of blue, crescent-shaped spots. The lower surface of the wings is brownish-brown; there is a wide yellowish stripe across the front wing.
Found everywhere in Russia, except the Far North.
Mother of pearl
Large pearlcrests from the genus Argynnis often fly together and are clearly distinguishable mainly on the underside of the hind wings. Males of the Great Forest Pearl (A. paphia) have darkening along the longitudinal veins on the fore wings; females are rufous or greenish-gray above. The bottom of the hind wings of this species has transverse light bands. The Aglaja mother-of-pearl (A. aglaja) has bright silver spots on the underside; the adippa pearler (A. adippe) has duller spots, and there is a row of ocelli along the edge. All these species develop on violets.
The large and beautiful mother-of-pearl daphne (Neobrenthis daphne) is rare in the Baikal region and is listed in the Red Book, but a similar species, meadowsweet mother-of-pearl (N. ino) is very common in meadows and glades
Forest pearlwort (male)
Blueberries
A very large family, including small butterflies (wingspan 27-28 mm), many of which have a shiny, metallic color. Distinctive feature Bluebirds have shortened front legs. Most European bluebirds are blue, although males are often brown. Among the bluebirds, there are also those whose rear pair of wings have characteristic outgrowths (“tails”), for which they are called “tails.” The family also includes bright orange chervonets on top. Russia is home to several hundred species of pigeons from more than fifty genera. Bluebirds fly across meadows, forest edges and clearings. Caterpillars feed on leaves of trees, bushes, herbaceous plants. Caterpillars of some species pupate in anthills.
Blueberry Icarus
Wood blueberry or Poluargus
Belyanki
A family of diurnal butterflies with predominantly white wings and a pattern of yellow, orange and black spots and fields, with club-shaped screeds, rounded triangular fore wings and ovoid hind wings.
Cabbage butterfly
Swallowtail
The great naturalist Carl Linnaeus named this butterfly in honor of the mythical hero Trojan War the famous doctor Machaon, who alleviated suffering and saved the lives of many wounded soldiers.
Swallowtail is found throughout the country, with the exception of the Far North.
The bright yellow wings of the swallowtail are distinguished by blackened veins and a wide black border with a wavy inner and jagged outer edge. Along the border there is a band of blue coating, especially bright on the hind wing, and along the outer edge there is a band of yellow spots-holes. The root area of the fore wing is black with a yellow coating. The hind wing is decorated with a bright red round spot and a black tail.
The caterpillar is not picky about food: it feeds on plants of the Apiaceae, Rutaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families. The swallowtail overwinters in the pupal stage.
In most of its range, the swallowtail gives two generations a year, and only in its northernmost regions - one. Butterflies of the first generation fly in May - June, and of the second - in July - August.
Sericin montela
Sericin montela is one of the amazing Ussuri relics. The butterfly has been preserved here since ancient times, since the territory of the Primorsky Territory has never been subject to complete glaciation; is rare. The background color of the female's wings is dark brown. Its front wing is crossed by thin dark yellow and ocher-yellow bands of varying lengths. The flight of these butterflies is very slow, even sluggish. They always stick to the thickets of the caterpillar's food plant - kirkazon, which grows here and there along the banks of rivers, streams and at the foot of the hills.
The male's wings are white. The pattern of the forewing consists of black, predominantly elongated spots, as well as darkening along the edge of its apex. The rear wing is decorated more spectacularly. He has leading edge Usually there is a red elongated spot in a black frame. At the rear corner there is a bright red short band, towards outside which is adjacent to blue spots framed in black. The hind wing is completed by a long thin brown-brown tail.
Maak tail bearer
This is the largest day butterfly Russia surpasses many of its tropical relatives in its beauty. It's hard to believe that the range of this remarkable sailboat extends to 54° northern latitude, on which Tynda and northern Sakhalin are located.
The female is larger than the male, her wingspan reaches 135 mm, while that of the male is 125 mm. The green dotted coating evenly covers the entire dark brown forewing of the female. The pattern of its hind wings is the same as that of the male, but its shine is muted, and in the marginal wavy border, along with green-blue, red-violet shades also appear. Females are much more variable than males. Among them it is difficult to find two identical butterflies.
A significant part of the black forewing of the male shimmers with a green dotted coating, which, closer to the edge, thickens into a sparse emerald-blue border. The area free from green coating shines with magical black silk: it is covered with the finest and most delicate fragrant black hairs - androconia. The hind wings with a wavy edge and long tails shine, iridescent, with a blue-green pattern.
Two generations of P. maackii appear each year: spring butterflies medium-sized, light and bright, and summer ones are twice as large and darker.
The Maaka tail-bearer lives in the Middle Amur region, Primorye, North Korea, Manchuria, on the Kuril Islands. In these places, butterflies are often found in broad-leaved and mixed forests, less often - in spruce-fir. They also fly into taiga villages. During the period when subalpine plants bloom, butterflies rise into the mountains up to 2000 m above sea level: looking for food, they fly around treeless peaks in a circle.
Sometimes in Primorye you can observe how this huge dark butterfly, like a bird, rushes over a forest road, majestically flapping its powerful wings. On hot days, dozens of tailed bats sit around roadside puddles, fluttering emerald greenery and blue wings. Disturbed, they take off in a dark cloud, from which drops of water, golden under the sun, rain down, shaken off by butterflies. An unforgettable, fabulous spectacle!
Oleander Hawkmoth
The color of the oleander hawk moth - one of the most beautiful not only in Russia, but also in the world - is dominated by bright grassy green colors. Therefore, it is very difficult to see him when he sits in foliage or grass.
The vast distribution area of the oleander hawkmoth includes all of Africa, India and the countries of the Middle East lying between them. There are reports that they have even reached Hawaii. Butterflies fly in the tropics all year round. From Africa and the Middle East, butterflies penetrate into Southern Europe; they live on the European continent and to the north. In Russia, they are most often found on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. The further north you go, the less often they appear, although occasionally these wonderful flyers can be seen in the Baltic states and on the Kola Peninsula.
The main food plants of the caterpillars are oleander, periwinkle, and grapevine; They can also feed on some other plants.
The narrow front fenders are decorated complex pattern of intricately curved green and brownish-lilac stripes of various shades. The hind wings are lilac-gray with a wide green outer edge. The color and pattern of the wings are harmoniously combined with the color of the butterfly's body.
This year, in the very heat, in the midst of summer, an incredible number of butterflies that are usually not very common, and even some time ago were in the Red Book, appeared. Velvety dark to black, with a bright orange-red stripe on the wing and white spots, they circle with the same large peacock's eye above the meadow flowers. It was thanks to this red stripe, reminiscent of stripes, that the butterfly was named admiral(lat. Vanessa atalanta). They flutter over meadow flowers, sit down to drink nectar, but are happy to taste bursting fruit or flowing juice on tree wounds. When a butterfly sits on a flower with its wings spread, it stands out as a bright spot on the green carpet of grass. But as soon as she folds her wings while sitting on a tree, thanks to the gray pattern she completely merges with the bark. The Latin species epithet of the butterfly Atalanta is taken from Greek mythology, where Atalanta, the heroine of the hunt for the Calydonian boar, ran faster than all people on Earth. And indeed, butterfly admiral in many parts of its range it makes huge, many-thousand-kilometer flights, for example, from Europe to North Africa.
Admiral(lat. Vanessa atalanta) is a diurnal butterfly from the nymphalidae family. The wingspan reaches 5 - 6.5 cm. The color of the wings is dark brown, sometimes almost black, with bright red stripes and white spots at the top of the fore wings. A widespread, numerous species whose range covers extratropical Eurasia, North Africa, and islands Atlantic Ocean, North America, Guatemala, Haiti and New Zealand. The caterpillars feed mainly on nettles and thistles. The species is an active migrant.
The specific epithet Atalanta (Greek mythology) goes back to Atalanta, the heroine of the hunt for the Calydonian boar, who ran faster than all people on Earth. Daughter of King Jasius (Ias) of Arcadia and Clymene. Her father, wanting to have only sons, threw the girl out on Mount Parthenius, and she was nursed by a bear until Atalanta was picked up by hunters in the forest. There are several versions regarding the origin of the generic name Vanessa. According to one of them, it came from the female name of the same name. According to another version, the name is consonant with the ancient Greek version of the word “Phanessa”, which means demiurge deity. This version is most likely unlikely. In fact, the deity's name in the original sounds like "Phanes" (Russian version of Fanet). The name of the genus was given by the Danish entomologist Johann Christian Fabricius, who primarily used the names of ancient deities when naming new taxa. The English name of the insect Red Admiral (red admiral) accurately characterizes the unique coloring of the butterfly.
The length of the front wing is 26 - 34.5 mm. The wingspan reaches 50 - 65 mm. The body is dark brown or black. The upper side of the wings is blackish or dark brown. At the apex of the fore wing there is a small tooth along the outer edge. The forewings are crossed by a bright orange-red band, above which there is a large elongated white spot and a chain of five to six spots of various sizes, all bright white in color. In the anal corner of the hind wing there is an elongated blue spot with a black rim. On the outer edge of the hind wings there is a wide orange-red marginal band, on which there are 4-5 black spots. In the posterior corner of the hind wing there is a double blue spot surrounded by a dark rim in the anal corner of the wing.
The underside of the wings is less bright, but more variegated. It is brownish-brown, with various reddish and white spots and gray streaks. On the bottom of the front wings the pattern of the upper side is repeated, which is complemented by blue rings in the central cell. The undersides of the hind wings are brownish, with an intricate marble-like pattern formed by dark strokes and sinuous lines. There is also a light spot at the anterior edge of the hind wing.
Antennae with a sharply expanded club. The eyes are covered with numerous small bristles. The outer edge of both wings is wavy, with one more prominent projection on the M1 vein on the forewings. The discal vein is present on both wings. The central cell on the hind wings is closed. The outer edge of the hind wings has no noticeable projections. The tibiae and tarsi of the forelegs are covered with relatively long, dense hairs.
This butterfly is not only beautiful, she is a big travel lover. Representatives of this type of insect make huge flights from Europe to North Africa to lay eggs here and die in the name of the birth of new offspring. In the spring, young butterflies set off on their return journey, despite the fact that many of them are destined to die along the way. However, butterflies living in the southern part of Europe are in no hurry to leave their native places, but wait out the winter in tree crevices or under the bark. The spring sun forces the butterfly to leave its shelter and begin to prepare for a romantic meeting in order to have offspring in time.
How long does the admiral butterfly live? IN favorable conditions She is a long-liver - the insect lives 9-10 months. For part of the allotted period, it remains in hibernation; it is the presence of diapause that explains its long existence. The fertilized female overwinters in order to next year After waking up, lay eggs immediately. In the North and Center of Europe, admirals do not remain in cold period. They go on a seasonal migration south. It is less noticeable than in summer, when a large number of adults settle in gardens and parks rich in food.
Migrants that appear in the summer produce offspring on local plants. Young butterflies fly in July-August. They are not shy; if handled carefully, they can land on clothing or a hand. It is easy to distinguish between visiting and local admirals by the condition of their wings - travelers’ wings are tattered and faded. During the wintering period, moths look for a reliable shelter where they can hide not only from the cold, but also from enemies. Females hide under the bark of trees, fallen leaves, and hide in crevices. While sleeping, they run the risk of being eaten by birds or rodents.
General climate warming and mild winters have led to changes in the behavior of the admiral butterfly. Not all individuals go to wait out the cold season in hot Africa. Part remains in temperate latitudes. This decision is completely justified, because many insects die while covering distances of thousands of kilometers.
The adult admiral butterfly feeds on nectar, tree juices, fruits and berries. Like all its relatives, this butterfly goes through several stages of its development. Therefore, the nutrition of a caterpillar hatched from an egg differs significantly from that of a fully formed individual. The caterpillar wraps a hop or nettle leaf around its body, protecting itself and at the same time using these leaves as food. The satiated caterpillar gradually turns into a pupa, from which after a certain period a beautiful adult butterfly flies out.
Food plants for admiral caterpillars include: Carduus sp. - plants from the genus Thistle, Humulus lupulus - Common hop, Urtica dioica - Stinging nettle, Urtica urens - Stinging nettle.
The female butterfly lays one egg on food plants. The insect's mating season occurs in the spring. From May to August the caterpillar develops, the color is noticeable on the sides yellow stripes, various inclusions and spikes. They curl into a tube on the leaves of nettle and thistle, turning into a pupa. The caterpillar makes a protective canopy of leaves, which it then feeds on. The butterfly emerges from the pupae towards the end of summer. Two generations of butterflies are usually hatched per year.
Admirals are characterized by courtship and mating games. During the breeding season, males exhibit territorial behavior. They occupy good areas where food plants grow and drive away competitors. Each has a territory of 10 by 20 m. Moths patrol their own area, flying around the perimeter. Admirals often circle the hills to spot and intercept a passing female from afar. The male flies for a long time after his partner, seeking her favor. Mating takes place over several hours. During this period, insects do not respond to external factors and are in a vulnerable position. Territorial males, who aggressively drive rivals of their species and other butterflies out of their area, demonstrate peaceful behavior while feeding on flowers or fruits.
The species is subject to dynamic fluctuations in numbers and in some years is observed in very large quantities. He is an active migrant. Populations in the forest belt of Eurasia are partially, and in the north of the range entirely, replenished by migratory individuals from the south. The species is included in the Red Book of the Smolensk region; it was previously included in the Red Book of Russia (1997) (category 4). At the moment, the species is excluded from the Red Book of Russia.