Butterfly marigold - inconspicuous inhabitant of meadows and forest glades

Butterfly marigold does not like bright light, prefers shady moist places. Representatives of the family can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Small and medium butterflies of the family of marigolds are modestly colored, usually in brown, gray or yellowish brown. The patterns of spots and eyes, camouflage underside are characteristic. A distinctive feature of imago is that the forelimbs are covered with bristles. Specialists unmistakably classify marigolds by swollen veins on the front wings.

Morphological features of the family

The family of day butterflies of marigolds is called satyrs and satirids (Satiridae). Until recently, they were considered a subfamily of Nymphalides. Due to the characteristic features of the external appearance, the systematics were revised and the scaled ones became a separate family. In the world there are about 2400 species of marigolds. The main variety of colorful butterflies is found in hot, humid tropical forests. The temperate latitudes of the Palearctic are inhabited by 350 species of satyrides.

Representatives of the marigold family are characterized by several features:

• Medium and small sizes - wingspan 30-60 mm.
• A fluttering flight, allowing you to escape from the attack of predators.
• A common color scheme is brown, brown, gray, the presence of ocular spots on the front and rear wings.
• Features of venation - one of the veins at the base of the front wing is swollen.

Information. The brown coloration of the underside and the pattern in the form of eyes are the protective mechanism of butterflies. A discreet color allows them to merge with the trunk of a tree, flapping wings with ocular spots disorient the predator.

By the structure of the body, satyrides are similar to nymphalids. They have a club-shaped antennae, forelegs are reduced and covered with hairs in the form of a brush. The wings are wide, rounded, in a calm state fold on the back. The hind wings are often wavy along the edge. Adult sexual dimorphism is weak. Usually manifested in shades of the main color of the wings.

Adults feed on flowering herbaceous plants and shrubs. For some species, additional trace elements are necessary for active life. Insects get them from moist clay soil, animal excrement. Most often, males need sodium, they can be seen in whole groups gathered on the banks of a stream or puddle.

Breeding

Marigold can be found in various natural biotypes - forests, steppes, mountain meadows, on roadsides and clearings. Insects prefer shady areas. They develop in one to three generations depending on the species and region of habitat. Females lay eggs in grass or soil. Caterpillars are green with longitudinal light or black stripes. Often active at night, well camouflaged. Pelletize in soil or on the ground.

Types of Marigolds

The brightest species of satyr butterflies are found in tropical zones, but the Palearctic will also find many interesting insects:

Sennitsa Alpine

Sennitsasimfita (Coenonymphasymphita) lives on alpine meadows and grasslands at an altitude of 1300-2300 m.Found in the Caucasus, in Armenia, Turkey. The top of the wings is orange, along the edge is silver-gray pollination and fringe. A small black peephole on the front wings is bordered by a wide bright rim. On the hind wings there are a number of similar spots. The underside is gray, repeats the pattern on the right side.

The female lays large eggs on the bluegrass annually. After 8 days, caterpillars appear. They winter in the second age. The next year, they continue to grow, growing to 22 mm. Pellet in a cradle of grass. The pupal stage lasts 2 weeks. Adults fly in June-July, develop in one generation.

Eye of the Achin

Achin's wing-eye butterfly or large-eyed butterfly is found in the forest and forest-steppe zone. The color of the wings is gray-brown, on the front pair 5 dark spots with a yellow border, on the back pair 3 spots. The back side of the wings is characterized by bright areas near the ocular spots along the edge. Wavy lines run along the outer edge of the wings. Wingspan 55-60 mm. Kagglazka Achina is found throughout Eurasia in forest glades, in shady places along roads.

The years of adults from May to July, develop in one generation. Females lead a secretive lifestyle, hiding in dense shrubs or crowns of trees. Males gather in groups near small puddles and animal excrement. The green caterpillar feeds on grasses, it remains to winter. Pupils in June next year. Butterfly is listed in the IUCN Red List.

Peephole flower

The flower eye butterfly (Aphantopushyperantus) received several interesting synonyms for its name - flower satyr, hyperant marigold. Brown wings up to 50 mm in size have a few eyes with a light rim around the edge. Shades of color and the number of eyes is not constant. Moths are found in glades, in gardens, parks, and shrubs. Active all summer, until early September. The peak of summer is the beginning of July.

Information. Butterfly peephole flower or black-brown - one of the most common types of satyrs in Eurasia.

The female scatters eggs in flight, the caterpillars develop on grasses: short-legged, rump, sedge. Adults are active in the daytime, and their offspring prefers to feed at night. The caterpillar is gray-brown with a black stripe along the back. The larva hibernates, pupates in May-June.

Cow eye

The marigold, with a hair-eye or ox-eye (Maniolajurtina) prefers open biotopes - floodplain meadows, forest glades, roadsides, steppes. Sexual dimorphism is manifested in the color of the wings. In males, the upper part of the wings is dark brown. At the outer edge of the front wings is a dark spot with an orange border. Females have orange-buffy spots on their wings. The wingspan of the imago is up to 50 mm.

The cow-eye butterfly is found in North Africa, Europe, Asia Minor, and Iran. The eastern border of the distribution range runs through Western Siberia. The imago years are long - from the end of May to the beginning of September. They feed on honey plants, like aphid excreta. One generation changes per year. On hot days, moths are passive, hiding in the shade.

Interesting fact. Males of a marigold dragging a mating dance during the courtship of a partner. During coupling, the female wears the male.

Females lay eggs on grass, close to the ground. The caterpillar is green, light streaks on the sides. They hibernate after the first molt. Caterpillars feed at night, fodder plants - allspice, fescue, bluegrass. In May pupate on blades of grass. Pupa yellow-green, suspended upside down.

Marigold Diana

Daytime butterfly Diana (LetheDiana) from the satyrid family is found in the Far East, Japan, Korea and China. Wingspan 45-55 mm. The main color of the upper side is brown, along the edge of the front wings an oblique light band. Two small ocelli are located on the underside of the front wings. The underside of the hind wings is distinguished by one large eye in the center and a number of smaller ones along the edge. There is a blue color in the edging of the spots.

Butterfly settles in the valley and mountain forests.Summer time from July to August, one generation per year. Females lay eggs on fodder plants - Kuril and ordinary bamboo. Adult caterpillars winter (fourth age).

Persephone Marigold

Persephone (Chazarapersephone) from the satyrid family lives in the European part of Russia, Crimea, the Caucasus, and Iran. It prefers dry cereal-wormwood steppes, in the north of the range lives in light forests - pine forests, oak trees. The adults are medium sized, wingspan 50-60 mm. The dark brown color of the male at the base of the wings turns into ashen. A band of white and yellow spots passes along the upper part of the wings. The color of the female is lighter. Antenna with a large dark mace.

Information. Persephone males love to bask in the sun, sitting on stones and open areas of land. Females are timid, hiding in dry thickets of grass.

Butterflies feed on nectar on grassy plants and shrubs. Years from June to August. The female lays eggs on the soil. Caterpillars develop slowly, winter in the first (second) age. The following year is active at night. Feed on cereals. Before pupation, they dig into the soil for the construction of an underground cradle.

Marigold Dryad

Satyr Dryad (Minoisdryas) is a species living throughout the temperate zone of Eurasia. The males have dark chocolate wings. On the front wings, two black marginal ocelli with a blue center. On the hind wings, one small eye. Females have a lighter background color. The wingspan of the butterfly is 47-63 mm. The bottom side is brown, the pattern of the upper part is repeated, but the spots are blurry. On the edge of the hind wing there is a dark band and light wavy stripes.

Dryads settle in bright broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes, floodplains, ravines. They develop in one generation; years of imago are observed from July to August. Females hide under the forest canopy, males actively fly in open glades. The flight of the dryad butterfly is difficult, they are kept low above the ground. Adults feed on nectar of flowers, feed on manure. Fertilized females drop their eggs in the thickets of cereals.

Caterpillars appear after 20-25 days. The body is beige with longitudinal black stripes. They hibernate in the second age. They feed on the hedgehog of the national team, bluegrass, reed. Pupils on the surface of the soil in the grass. Pupa reddish brown, develops up to four weeks. Dryads in the northwest of the distribution area have become a rare species. They are protected in Poland.