Butterfly hives - bright insects that can be found in your garden

Morphological description of the species

Urticaria belongs to the genus Aglais of the family Nymphalis (nymphalids). Its species designation is urticae (nettle). A medium-sized day butterfly has a wingspan of 42-62 mm. The main background of the wings is brick red. In the upper part of the fore wing, three black spots alternate with yellow ones, and at the apex there is a light area. The outer edge is wavy, on each wing there is a sharp ledge. The base of the hind wings is brown with brown scales. This is followed by an orange stripe. In the description of the urticaria butterfly, its characteristic feature should be noted - a pattern of blue spots on a black background around the entire outer perimeter of the wings.

Nymphalids are distinguished by a protective color on the inner side of the wings. In urticaria, it is brownish brown with bright patches on the front wings. In winter, folding its wings behind its back, the moth turns into a dry leaf. The tendrils of hives are club-shaped, complex faceted eyes distinguish red. The black chest and abdomen are covered with brown hairs.

Related view

The genus Aglais belongs to the spotted urticaria. A distinctive feature of the species is that in the upper part of the front wings the black discal spot merges with the spot located between the veins. They form a zigzag band. Butterfly is found in Japan, southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.

Distribution area

Urticaria are one of the most common lepidoptera species in Europe. The species is observed up to the coast of the Arctic Ocean. Butterfly is found in Asia Minor, Siberia, China and Mongolia, Japan and Korea. Urticaria lives in the steppes and semi-deserts, parks, on the edges of the forest, along roads, in gardens. High places are also inhabited, the butterfly lives in the Alps at an altitude of 3 thousand meters, and in the Himalayas 5 thousand meters.

Lifestyle

The butterfly years begin in March-April. This is one of the first spring moths. In the northern latitudes, one generation is replaced per year, in the southern - two. Moths can be found until September. Urticaria are sensitive to drought. With a decrease in the amount of moisture in the air, the number of insects decreases. The absence of precipitation reduces the amount of water, nitrogen and nutrients in the nettle leaves. Inadequate nutrition makes caterpillars weak, slows their development.

Day butterflies are active during daylight hours. At night and in inclement weather, they hide in shelters: hollows of trees, caves, ledges of rocks. Near human housing, they have more opportunities to find a secluded place. What does butterfly urticaria eat? Flower nectar is the main source of insect vitality. To find a suitable object, butterflies learned to distinguish a palette of colors. Among the plants on which the insect feeds:

• blackberry;
• primrose;
• dandelion;
• elecampane;
• marjoram;
• thistle.

How long does a butterfly urticaria live? Under favorable circumstances, she lives a long life - 9 months. For a butterfly, this is real longevity, because some species appear for several days. Hives face many dangers.Among its enemies are birds, rodents, reptiles, small mammals that feed on insects. In addition to them, parasites cause great harm. Flies lay eggs on the leaves of a feed plant. Larvae eat them during feeding. Parasites develop inside the host, feeding on its organs.

How hives butterflies hibernate

Since the beginning of autumn, butterflies begin to eat intensively. They need to make a significant supply of lipids, allowing them to survive several cold months. Urticaria hibernate in the adult phase. Hollows of trees, cracks in the bark, root litter, cracks in the walls of farm buildings, attics serve as a refuge from frost for fragile insects. When the temperature drops below 0 °, moths are immersed in a state of diapause. It looks like a long dream during which all processes in the body slow down. Energy reserves are spent sparingly.

Information. Nymphalisurticae butterflies are extremely resistant to low temperatures. They freeze at -21 °, but thaw in the spring and continue the life cycle.

For winter insects, natural enemies are more dangerous than frosts. Camouflage coloring helps moths survive the winter. She hides them from numerous enemies who seek food for themselves. But half of the urticaria does not survive until spring, eaten by rodents or birds.

Breeding

Butterflies start breeding in mid-April, after they strengthen their strength after a winter sleep. The males spend the first half of the day in search of food and solar heat. Saturated and warmed up, they are looking for a female for mating. Territorial behavior is weak, they almost do not try to supplant the opponent. Caring for future partners takes place in areas under direct sunlight.

The male flies up behind and makes a specific sound. Mating games can last several hours. Mating usually occurs on nettles. A fertilized female lays eggs on the inside of the leaf.

Their number is 100-200 pieces. Eggs are oval, green. Laying takes 20-90 minutes. The embryo develops 1-3 weeks depending on weather conditions. Urticaria caterpillars stick together. From the first age, they do not crawl through the bush, live in one brood. The main feed plants:

• stinging nettle;
• Stinging nettle;
• hemp;
• hop.

Hive butterfly caterpillars are born 1.2 mm long. They weave a common web and feed on young leaves. Having finished with greens on one plant, they move to the neighboring one. In the first or second age, the larvae are green, their body is covered with black hairs, growths and spots. During development, they molt 4 times and change 5 ages. The head capsule of the larva is black and shiny. On segments of the body, tubercles overgrown with setae. The adult caterpillar of the urticaria butterfly is black in color; longitudinal light yellow stripes pass on the back and sides.

After the fourth molt, the caterpillars sprawl and hold one at a time. They begin to search for a place for pupation, which occurs in an upright position. The caterpillar attaches to a branch or stalk and turns into a pupa 20-22 mm in size. Pupa is angular, free, colored in golden or reddish-brown. This stage takes about two weeks. What emerges from the dolls of butterfly hives? When the time comes, the shell breaks and an imago appears. The wings of the butterfly are short and weak, it has to sit motionless for several minutes until they are fully opened. Spreading bright wings, urticaria flies away to look for flowers.

Home Content

Urticaria often wake up during thaws in winter. A butterfly can be seen in the snow. In the entrance, in the attic, loggia. Fans of insects take them to the house to save them from frost. How long does a butterfly urticaria live at home? Many factors affect the duration of her life: nutrition, indoor humidity, energy supply, and others. With good care, she will live for several weeks.

What does butterfly urticaria eat at home? In nature, they feed on nectar of flowers, drink birch sap. For Lepidoptera, a sweet solution is prepared in a proportion of 6 tsp. water for 1 tsp. honey.Treats are offered in a small lid, on a saucer or by moistening cotton wool in syrup. The hives on the front legs have receptors, touching them with a solution, she will feel the food. Feeding takes place during the day, takes 5 to 15 minutes. The butterfly unwinds the proboscis and drinks the proposed honey solution. Actively flying insects are fed daily, passive - after 36 hours.

Information. When feeding, a butterfly is taken by the base of the wings, if necessary, the proboscis is straightened with a toothpick.

Interesting Facts

Butterfly urticaria, why is it called that? The name of the species in Russian and Latin (Nymphalisurticae) is associated with the feed plant of the larvae - nettle. Adults are often seen fluttering over bushes during oviposition. The close connection of the butterfly with the nettle became the reason for choosing the name.

By observing the behavior of urticaria, you can predict the weather. If on a clear day the butterfly rushes about in search of shelter, it means that in a few hours it will rain heavily.

How many legs does a hive butterfly have? Lepidoptera insects have three pairs of legs attached to the chest. The nymphalid family, to which urticaria belongs, has a characteristic feature. The front legs of the moths are reduced. They are greatly shortened and are not used when walking. The limbs are devoid of claws. The modified legs are covered with long setae that act as touch organs. Butterflies move on two pairs of legs - middle and hind. But limbs are used to move over short distances, as well as landing and take-off.