Butterfly Zorka - spring mood in the meadows and parks

The family of day butterflies of the whites united more than 1.1 thousand species of insects. They are found all over the world, pleasing the eye with a light color with a pattern of bright spots. The dawn or aurora butterfly is a typical member of the family. It occurs in spring in the meadows and forest edges. Orange spots on the wings are a distinctive feature of males. The color of the females is much more modest; their wings are simply white with dark tips. In the Moscow region, butterflies are classified as shrinking species and are listed in the Red Book.

Description

The dawn butterfly (Anthochariscardamines) from the family of whites appears in early spring. The Latin name for the species cardamines comes from the name of the feed plant of the caterpillars - the core or cog. Insects of medium size, wingspan 38-50 mm. The color of butterflies shows sexual dimorphism. The male attracts attention with large orange spots at the outer edge of the front wings. In bright areas there are small black spots. The rest of the wing and the rear wing are white. On the inside of the wings there is a colorful marble pattern, veins are golden. The edges are white fringe. The photo shows that the head and chest of the male butterfly dawns covered with thick gray hairs.

Interesting fact. Orange spots on the wings are a signal for predators that the butterfly tastes unpleasant. Mustard oil accumulates in her body from the larval stage. The absence of a deterrent color explains the more secretive behavior of the female.

The front wings of the females are in the form of a rectangular triangle. The outer edge is darkened, a black discal spot is located a little lower. Hind wings are rounded, white. Along the perimeter are covered with light fringe. The head and chest of the female are also covered with hairs, but they are darker. The antennae of the butterflies are club-shaped. The hemispherical complex eyes of the facet type are located on the sides of the head. The oral apparatus in the form of a proboscis allows adults to eat nectar of flowers.
A colorful pattern on the lower part of the wings, created from a combination of green, yellow and black colors, perfectly masks the insect. When a butterfly folds its wings behind its back, it is difficult to notice even an experienced observer.

Caterpillar

Small white caterpillars. The color is blue-green, dark dots and short light hairs are scattered throughout the body. Between the first and fifth segments, a longitudinal light line runs along the back. Such stripes are located on the sides. The lower torso is light green. The round head is green, the mouth apparatus is gnawing. On the chest there are 3 pairs of legs, another 5 pairs of short thick legs are on the abdomen. They end in claws, helping to stay on the fodder plant.

Subspecies

In Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, the main species is Anthocharis cardamines, which has 9 subspecies.

• A. c. koreana - habitats of the Amur and Ussuri rivers;
• A. c. Alexandra - distributed in Altai;
• A. c. hayashii - territory of Japan;
• A. c. cardamines - Europe, China, temperate Asia;
• A. c. septentrionalis - lives in the Far East;
• A. c. progressa - the distribution area of ​​the Tien Shan;
• A. c. phoenissa - lives on the Kopetdag mountain system;
• A. c.isshikii - spread to Sakhalin and Japan;
• A. c. meridionalis is the habitat region of Transbaikalia. Sayans.

Distribution area

The species of common dawn or aurora is common in temperate climates. It is found in the north to the Barents Sea, south to the steppe hot regions. Butterflies are found in Eastern Europe, Asia (except the tropical zone), in China and Japan. Insects fly into the mountains to a level of 2000 m. In Russia, dawn is distributed in most regions from the European to the Far Eastern. Butterflies prefer forest edges, mixed grass meadows. Belyanki often become inhabitants of city parks and squares, fly into residential neighborhoods.

Lifestyle

Aurora butterflies choose places near the forest, edges, cutting down. In early spring, at the end of March-April, males can be seen flying along the bush, in wet meadows. They are preoccupied with finding a female. During active flights, they cross glades, vacant lots, climb into floodplains of rivers. Females are passive, prefer to spend time in the meadows among the herbs. Butterflies like to fly on clear sunny days, even in the forest they try to avoid shady areas.

The main summer time from April to July, in different regions, may vary depending on climatic conditions. In Siberia, Anthocharis cardamines appear in May, in the mountainous regions in June-July. Adults feed on several types of plants:

• oregano;
• viola canina;
• serpentine head;
• evening party;
• willow flowers.

In most habitats, butterflies give one generation, only in the south of Europe there are 2 generations.

Breeding

Males take care of females. They pursue potential partners in flight, trying to find out their intentions. With females sitting on plants, it is easier to determine. If she lifted the abdomen, then she is not ready for mating. Males do not always accept rejection; they can continue courtship until the partner agrees or flies away.

Females lay eggs on young inflorescences, pods, the reverse side of the leaves of grasses from the genus core. They are orange in color, oval in shape, reminiscent of barrels with 11 ribs. When laying, the female leaves her pheromone on the plant, warning other butterflies that the flower is busy. But cases of the appearance of several eggs still occur if the pheromone is washed off by rain. The embryonic phase lasts 2 weeks.

Interesting fact. If there are two caterpillars of a dawn on one fodder plant, then competition cannot be avoided. A strong individual eats a weaker one.

Caterpillars develop from May to mid-July. They feed on petals and young pods. The dawn offspring feeds on the following herbs:

• meadow core;
• garlic
• colza ordinary;
• mignonette;
• shepherd’s bag;
• gallant.

Larvae of any age are perfectly camouflaged among greenery. From the egg they appear 1.5 mm in size, with an orange body color, warts and black dots. After the first molt, they increase by 2 times and become olive. The adult larva grows to 30 mm. The development of the caterpillar takes about 5 weeks, then the next phase begins - pupation. Pupa is smooth, green, brown or yellowish. It is attached to the stalk of the feed plant with a silk spider web and remains to winter.

Pupa is located vertically, its length is 22-23 mm. The appearance resembles a pod, which allows you to disguise yourself from enemies. If the stem breaks in winter or burns out from a stump of grass, the chrysalis will die with it.

Species protection

Dawn common butterfly, which fell into the Red Book of Moscow. Until 2000, the species was distributed in the green area of ​​forests and parks. Mowing grass on the edges and meadows has led to a reduction in the number of butterflies. Negative factors also include fallen grass, overgrown plots with trees, natural substitution of fodder plants with other species. Dawn remains in 3 categories - vulnerable species. To preserve butterflies, it is recommended to plant forbs, mosaic mowing sites.