Butterfly poplar ribbon - a rare species that needs our protection

In summer, large butterflies with spotted wings gather on warmed forest glades or the banks of ponds. They drink water with dissolved mineral salts, feed on organic residues. Butterflies poplar lentochnik is a typical representative of the nymphalids family, which needs replenishment of micronutrient reserves. Insects are common in the temperate zone of Eurasia; they settle in deciduous and mixed forests. The number of butterflies is unstable, the species was included in the European Red List, the Red Book of Latvia, Ukraine.

View description

Poplar ribbon (Limenitis populi) is one of the largest butterflies of the nymphalidae family. The wingspan of the imago is 65-85 mm. The main background of the upper side of the wings is brownish brown. Under the rays of the sun a greenish-blue hue is noticeable. On the front wing there is a pattern of randomly scattered white spots and fuzzy orange holes at the edge. On the hind wing there is a white band and a bright pattern of black and orange marginal holes.

Information. Sexual dimorphism of Limenitis populi butterflies is manifested in the size of adults. Female wings up to 85 mm, male - 63-65 mm.

The reverse side of the wings is orange-red in color, along the edge there is a grayish or bluish border. Drawing of white bandages and spots. On the front pair of wings, the outer edge is noticeably elongated. The hind wings are rounded, with a wavy edge and light fringe. The head of the butterfly is round; most of it is occupied by faceted eyes devoid of hairs. The antennae are club-shaped. The body is evenly painted in black and brown. The abdomen is narrow.

Legs are walking type. The front pair of limbs is reduced. This symptom is characteristic of representatives of the nymphalide family. Short legs are not used when walking, their foot has no segments and claws. The limbs, covered with thick hairs, have become a full-fledged organ of touch. With their help, butterflies find food.

Subspecies

There are 4 subspecies of poplar ribbon, differing in color options for the wings:

• Limenitispulipopuli - the main (nominal) subspecies.
• Limenitispuliussuriensis is a group with large white spots and bandages that lives in the Amur region.
• Limenitis populijezoensis - Japanese subspecies.
• Limenitis populiszechwanica - wings with a pronounced metallic sheen, the habitat of China and Tibet.

Distribution area

Butterfly poplar lentnik lives in the temperate zone of Europe and Asia. Its in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, with the exception of England, Italy, Spain. The species has completely disappeared in Denmark. In the north, insects settle up to 65 ° north latitude. The southern border of distribution passes in the European part of the range through the forests of Transcarpathia. Butterflies live in Siberia, Mongolia, the south of the Far East, China and Japan. In the mountains they are found at an altitude of up to 1500 m, in Tibet - up to 2800 m.

Lifestyle

Unlike other day butterflies, the poplar ribbon is a secretive lifestyle. Females spend almost all the time in the crown of trees, descend only for food on the flowers or excrement of animals.Males more often appear in the field of view of observers, gathering on forest roads or moist areas of soil. Ribbons are found in broad-leaved and mixed forests, young aspen forests, flood meadows with fodder plants. Butterflies are attracted to paved roads. Their interest is due to radiated heat and the ability to find the remains of organic matter.

The diet of butterflies is very specific, they feed on the corpses of rodents and frogs, excrement, rotten fruits and silage more often than on flowers. But nevertheless lentochki visit umbrella plants to suck out nectar. In the main habitat, the imago begins in June and ends in July. In the southern regions, butterflies appear in May. Males leave pupae earlier than females. One generation is developing in a year. Poplar ribbons are excellent flyers, they move quickly over considerable distances. Towards the end of life, insects leave their habitual sites, appearing in a swamp or agricultural crops.

Information. The local habitats of the Limenitis populi population are 5–7 km long.

Reproduction and development

The males manage to replenish the supply of nutrients and divide the forest area into sections before the birth of the females. They are characterized by territorial behavior. After mating, the females lay one egg on the tip of the leaf of the feed plant. Caterpillars develop on aspen, black, white and fragrant poplar, willow. The embryo matures in 7 days.

Information. Females lay eggs on young aspen growths. In late July and early August, when the caterpillars leave the shell, the leaves of mature trees become stiff.

Young caterpillars are black, the body is covered with warts. Go on wintering at the second age. Next spring, they grow to 50 mm and turn dark green with brown spots. The head is brown, behind it grow two large growths resembling horns. On some segments of the body there are similar growths, but smaller. They pupate in June among the crown of a fodder plant. Pupa is large, yellow with black spots, the stage lasts 2 weeks.

Population reduction and protection of poplar ribbon

The population size varies from year to year, it can significantly decrease due to a combination of negative factors:

• Bad weather conditions - males die due to bad weather, and unfertilized females cannot give offspring.
• Exposure to parasites, riders from the family of braconids and ichneumonids.
• Diseases and attacks of predators.
• Death under the wheels of cars - 10-15% of males die under the wheels.

A decrease in the number of Lepidoptera in all European countries forced the species Limenitis populi to be included in the red list of animals under threat of destruction. In Russia, butterflies got into several regional Red Books - Moscow, Lipetsk, Saratov, Voronezh region, the republics of Mordovia and Tatarstan. The catastrophic decline in the population is caused not only by natural factors. The negative role was played by the widespread deforestation of deciduous forests, an increase in the recreational load, the use of insecticides in rows with habitats of lentoks.