Swallowtail butterfly: variety of subspecies and life features of the sailboat

Sailboats or gentlemen - a family that brings together the largest and most beautiful butterflies. The greatest variety of species is found in the tropics, but on other continents you can see interesting and vibrant insects. The family has 700 species of sailboats, 20. In Russia, the butterfly swallowtail is a typical representative of the genus Papilio with long tails and wavy wings. The color of the insect is yellow with a black pattern and a red-blue eye. Despite the fact that the butterfly is found throughout the Palearctic, its number has declined sharply. To protect Lepidoptera from complete destruction, the species was listed in the Red Book.

Morphological description

Sailboat Machaon (Papiliomachaon) is one of the most common members of its family. Carl Linnaeus named the species after the mythical Greek physician Machaon, who participated in the campaign against Troy. The size of the wings of the male is 65-80 mm, the female is 75-95 mm. The main background of the wings is yellow. In the middle of the front wing there is a pattern of black stripes and spots, the base is darkened. A wide black border with yellow hemispheres runs along the edge. The main part of the hind wings is yellow, closer to the edge there is a blue band with a black border. The outer edge has a red eye with a black stroke. The photo shows that the edge of the hind wings of the swallowtail butterfly is wavy, the tails are 10 mm long.

Information. Papiliomachaon of the first generation are light in color, representatives of the second generation are noticeably larger, their colors are more saturated and brighter.

The body of the moth is light, covered with sandy hairs. On the chest and abdomen are longitudinal black stripes. The head is round, inactive. Complex facet eyes are located on the sides. The organ of vision helps insects navigate in space, distinguish between objects and some colors. In the frontal part there are long jointed antennae ending in a mace. Sucking mouthpart. This is a long black proboscis, allowing you to drink nectar from flowers. In a calm state, it is twisted into a spiral.

Distribution area

The species inhabits the entire Palearctic. It is found in all countries of Europe, excluding Ireland. Butterflies settled in the temperate zone of Asia, in northern Africa, in North America. The habitat border runs from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea and the Caucasus Mountains.

Subspecies

The wide distribution area of ​​the machaons has led to the formation of various subspecies that differ in color and size.

• P. m. bairdii is a black swallowtail butterfly found in North America. The dark shape is similar to the Polyxen sailboat. The main color is black. On the front wings, a pattern of yellow strokes and spots located on a black border. On the hind wings, in addition to yellow and blue spots, an orange eye is located near the tails.
• P. m. ussuriensis - lives in Primorye and Amur region, the group is characterized by large sizes of insects. In females, the wingspan is 95 mm, in males - 85 mm. Insects are saturated in black and blue in color.
• P. m.hippocrates - a subspecies has settled in Japan and the nearby islands, in which a blue stripe above the red eye is enclosed between two black ones.
• P. m. kamtschadalus - unique butterflies of bright yellow color with a faded black pattern and short tails. Endemic subspecies lives on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
• P. m. gorganus - a continental subspecies widely distributed on the plains of Russia, in the foothills of the Caucasus and Central Europe. What does the swallowtail butterfly found in most European countries look like? The wingspan does not exceed 60-70 mm, their tails are 6-7 mm long. The background of the wings is light yellow with a distinctive black pattern and blue spots.

Caterpillar appearance

In May, the caterpillars of the first generation Machaon butterfly appear. They come out of the eggs in black with many orange warts and a white patch on the back. After several links, the caterpillar turns bright green with narrow black transverse stripes and orange spots on each body segment. The larva has three pairs of true legs on the thoracic segment and five pairs of false feet in the abdomen.

The larva has a defense mechanism from enemies. This is a fork-shaped gland of osmetria. It is located in the prothoracic segment, looks like orange horns. The discharge and odor of osmetry scare away ants, wasps and flies. Larvae use it at an early age. It does not act on larger predators - birds. Tits, reed buntings, and nightingales prey on caterpillars. They destroy 40-50% of the offspring.

Related view

Sailboat Maak or butterfly blue swallowtail also belongs to the genus Papilio. The insect is named after R.K. Maak, a researcher of Siberia and the Far East. The wingspan of Russia's largest butterfly is 125-135 mm. Coloring of the front wings of males with green shimmer and black stripes. Hind wings are dark blue with blue spots. In females, the color is brown or black, on the hind wings there is a pattern of red spots at the outer edge.

The tail-bearer Maak lives in Primorye, Transbaikalia, on Sakhalin, in Korea, Japan and China. The insect settles in broad-leaved and mixed forests. Caterpillars feed on trees from the root family - Amur velvet, Sakhalin velvet. The blue swallowtail is listed in the Red Book of Sakhalin Oblast.

Habitats and lifestyle

In describing the lifestyle of a swallowtail butterfly, a significant role is given to two points: nutrition and reproduction. In the short time allotted to the imago, they must gain strength for mating and continue the genus. Favorite habitats: steppes with herbs, well-warmed forest glades and edges, roadsides and river banks. It is found in the tundra in the northern regions. Individual individuals fly into cities. In the mountainous regions of the Alps fly to a height of 2000 m. Imagos are prone to migration, considerable distances fly in search of comfortable living conditions and fodder plants.

Years of butterflies in a temperate climate from May to August, in the south - from March to November. The bulk of insects gives two generations, one in the north, three in North Africa.

Breeding

A fertilized female lays single eggs on fodder plants. In the middle lane it is umbrella: dill, parsley, angelica, mustard, celery and caraway seeds. In other regions, rue, birch, and asteraceae plants. Masonry is carried out on the lower part of the leaf or stem, while the butterfly hangs in the air. Fertility of the female is 100-120 eggs. Initially, they are green, then turn yellow-brown.

After a week, a caterpillar 3 mm long appears. In warm weather, she eats a lot and grows rapidly. Prefers to eat ovaries and flowers, less often leaves. Caterpillar replaces 5 ages. The adult larva grows to 50 mm. The development period depends on weather conditions, in favorable circumstances is 15-18 days. Before pupation, the caterpillar stops feeding and looks for a suitable place.

For pupation, the stalk of the fodder plant or the nearby shrub is selected. The insect attaches itself to the twig with a silky sash. First-generation summer pupae are green. After 2-3 weeks, an adult appears from them.Wintering pupae are brown, this stage is delayed for the entire period of cold weather.

Food

Sailboats fly actively in warm sunny weather. The imago needs additional nutrition on flowers and the replenishment of trace elements. Swallowtail males often gather in groups of 10-15 individuals on the wet shores of ponds, sit on excrement and manure. What does the swallowtail butterfly eat? The main feeding occurs on the flowers of herbaceous plants:

• carrot;
• snakeheads;
• oregano;
• honeysuckle;
• rosehip;
• geranium.

Having performed the inherent function of reproduction, the insect dies. How long does a swallowtail butterfly live? The life span of an imago is 3 weeks.

Limitations and Protection

The number of swallowtail butterflies in Russia varies from low to normal in various regions. The species is threatened in several areas: Smolensk, Moscow, Vologda. In these regions, as well as on Sakhalin, the swallowtail butterfly is listed in the Red Book. Negative factors affecting the number of butterflies are natural and economic. Natural issues:

• Low temperature, lack of sun during mating and oviposition.
• The defeat of the larvae with fungus and parasites in a rainy, protracted autumn.
• Early frosts, due to which the caterpillar does not have time to turn into a chrysalis and dies.

Anthropogenic factors:

• Forest fires and grass fell.
• Insecticidal treatment of agricultural fields.
• Destruction of caterpillars and catching butterflies for the collection.

The reduction in the number of Papiliomachaon is observed not only in Russia, but in European countries. The species is under state protection in Latvia, Lithuania, Germany. As protective measures, it is forbidden to collect butterflies and caterpillars. In their habitats, the use of chemicals, livestock grazing is regulated.

Swallowtail butterfly: interesting facts

• In 2006, at the initiative of the German Conservation Union, the machaon became a symbol of the country. In this way, people's attention is drawn to the fate of endangered species.
• Ponytails and eyes at the tips of the wings are used to distract the attention of birds from the vital organs of the insect.
• If you disturb a butterfly, it begins to flap its wings sharply, trying to scare off the enemy by flickering bright colors.
• The moth can be found in the mountains of Tibet at an altitude of up to 4,500 km.
• At the end of summer, bright colors on the scales fade, the pattern on the wings becomes faded and unclear.
• The color intensity of the wings depends on climatic conditions. In subspecies living in the northern regions, the main color is sand, almost white. In insects in the south, the palette changes to a bright yellow hue.