There are about 200 species of butterflies in Moscow's green areas

Specialists of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection told how butterflies behave depending on the time of year. About it on February 3 wrote on the portal of the mayor of Moscow.

"In the natural areas of the capital there are about 200 species of butterflies, of which 94 are listed in the Red Book of Moscow. In summer, butterflies live in the capital's parks, wildlife preserves, meadows, forest edges and even in residential areas, and for wintering scales choose secluded places", - stated on the portal.

It is also noted that last year cabbage borer was recorded in the national park "Losiny Ostrov", parks "Sokolniki", "Ostankino", "Kuskovo", "Bittsevsky Forest" and other natural areas. It is easily recognized by its powdery-white wings with two black rounded spots. In males they are located on the lower side of the forewings, and in larger females - on the upper side. The adult caterpillar of the cabbage borer is bluish-green in color, with black spots and yellow stripes.

Pupation takes place in secluded places, for example, on tree trunks, among tall grass, under the eaves of houses or on fences. The pupal stage of the summer generation is 8-30 days, depending on air temperature. If weather conditions are unfavorable, the caterpillars may remain in the state of a hibernating pupa until it gets warmer. Such a pupa attaches with its tail part to tree trunks, various buildings and stones with its head upwards.

The big brown-eyed moth was spotted by specialists in the park "Bittsevsky Forest". The wings of this butterfly are brown-brown. On the front ones there is a dark spot with white flecks, resembling an eye. On the hind ones there are two or three such spots. In males, the scales on the wings are microscopic prisms.

In early summer, the female lays two or three eggs on the leaves of cereals. Soon light green caterpillars with a dark green stripe along the back emerge from them. They actively gain weight and, having undergone a series of metamorphoses, turn into pupae. The caterpillars, born in late summer, settle down for hibernation.

Waking up in early spring, the larva continues to feed, and by May pupates on a plant or in the soil. The pupae of different sexes differ in color. Females are characterized by dark green, and males by yellow-green tones. During the season, two or three generations of butterflies usually develop.

Pigeon Argus is included in the Red Book of Moscow. It has been seen in the national park "Losiny Ostrov", parks "Bittsevsky Forest", "Maryino", natural reserve "Zhulebinsky". This species is characterized by silver spots, black border and fringe on the wings, which are blue in males and brown in females.

In the fall, butterflies begin laying eggs on the woody stems of plants near anthills. Caterpillars appearing in spring - green in color, with a black line on the back - feed on buds and buds in the evening and at night, and take shelter among leaves during the day. They pupate most often in anthills. Ants are attracted by the sweet liquid secreted from the glands of the caterpillar, so after pupation and hatching of butterflies ants continue to take care of them.

Specialists noticed the Icarus dove in the parks "Kuzminki-Lublino", 850th anniversary of Moscow, "Khodynskoe Pole", landscape reserve "Troparevsky" and on the territory of the nature monument "Molzhaninovskoe upper bog". The color of wings of males is shiny and blue-blue, with dark edging and white fringe along the edge. In females, the wings are brown, with orange wells.

Being a green caterpillar depends on the amount of food, air temperature and daylight hours. The caterpillar overwinters on the stem, at the base of the plant or in the forest floor.

The large overflow caterpillar was recorded in the Tushinsky Park. It is listed in the Red Book of Moscow. Butterflies are not bound to a place and tend to fly widely. The male has black-brown wings with a bright purple tint, while the female has dark brown wings without tint and with a lightened edge.

In the wild, these butterflies are found from June through August. From the laid eggs hatch caterpillars of greenish color, which are easily recognized by the characteristic "horns". After the second molt, they weave a cocoon and in this form they survive the winter.

The mahion is also listed in the Red Book of Moscow. It has been seen in the parks "Kuzminki-Lublino", "Kosinsky", "Bittsevsky Forest", Altufievsky Integrated Reserve and Deguninsky Nature Reserve. The species is found on forest edges, grassy meadows and even on meadow slopes of overground subway lines. The mahion can migrate throughout Moscow.

The rear wing of the mahion has a characteristic outgrowth in the form of a tail and a red spot in a blue frame. The overall coloration is yellow, with dark dusting along the veins. The adult caterpillar is bright green, with black transverse stripes and red dots. If disturbed, it tucks its head and protrudes an orange "fork" on its back with an unpleasant odor. The mahoon overwinters in the pupal stage. Departure of the first generation of butterflies occurs in May - June, the second - in August. Butterflies feed on flower nectar, and caterpillars feed on umbrella plants.

The checkerspot maturna is included in the Red Book of Moscow. It can be found on the edges, glades and in the sagebrush of coniferous-deciduous forests. It has orange wings with a pattern of black spots and stripes. Females are larger than males.

The caterpillars are black with yellow stripes on the back and sides. They develop from July to May of the following year, and live in a common nest on aspen, willow, ash or honeysuckle until wintering. Afterward they spread out and live separately on plantains, violets, and other grasses.

Day peacock's eye can be seen on forest edges, meadows or in river valleys. It happens that they fly into residential neighborhoods in Moscow. The wings of the day peacock's eye are mostly cherry-brown, with large black eye spots, which are designed to scare away enemies. Toothed protrusions are prominent along the outer edge of the wings. Butterflies prefer to overwinter as adults. In September, they hide in secluded places and hibernate until spring.

One of the key areas of work of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the capital is to take care of animals and birds that have fallen into a difficult situation.

Earlier, on January 30, the press service of the Leningrad Department of Rospotrebnadzor reported that ticks have awakened in the region earlier than expected. The warm winter contributed to this.