Butterfly - economic significance and harm

In the class of insects, the nocturnal butterfly occupies the second place in the number of species. Most of them lead a gloomy way of life and differ from the day-olds fluttering under the rays of the sun with a more thickened calf, not so bright, but more monotonous and dull. Antennae do not have a pin-like rounding, so this species is called raznous.

In nature, all insects are important: beetles, mosquitoes, butterflies. Has its economic significance and night butterfly. What is it? Butterflies of the night feed exclusively on nectar and are very valuable pollinators of many crops that blossom at night. For example, a flower of a yucca plant is very difficult to pollinate without the participation of night moths. This butterfly collects pollen from several flowers, rolls it into a ball and inserts it very precisely into the flower's pestle, which ensures fertilization and the possibility of obtaining a seed. At the same time, the moth lays eggs in this flower, providing fodder to its future offspring. The larvae, of course, eat a small part of the young seeds, because this is their only food, but without them the fertilization of the flower would not take place. It is known that different types of moths serve specifically for the fertilization of certain plant species.

The nocturnal butterfly, which does not have symbiotic connections, lays eggs, attaching them to various objects, for example, to leaves, to branches or to fallen tree trunks on the banks of rivers. Wind or flood waters carry these objects to new areas, and insects are also transferred to new areas where they appear from eggs in the form of larvae. Their larvae are like worms, they are called caterpillars.

Caterpillars have a hard head, and three pairs of legs have claws. False legs are present on the fleshy abdomen. Notice how the night butterflies look during this period of development, the photo reflects the full structure of the body of the caterpillar. In the process of their short development, the larvae moult several times. After the last moult, they will weave themselves a cocoon of silky thread, turn into pupae and fall asleep in them until it's time to turn into a butterfly.

Silk fiber caterpillars produce special glands. Salivary glands secrete a protein-rich fluid. When it dries in air, this liquid turns into a very strong thread. Caterpillar silk fiber is actively used by people to produce natural silk fabrics. For this purpose, specially bred certain species of butterflies.

To the weaving of the cocoon, the caterpillar fits very responsibly. First she finds refuge. This may be a buried underground mink, a crevice in the wood, or another kind of shelter that meets the safety rules and methods of protection inherent in nature in the program of self-preservation. Only then the larva of the night butterfly folds into a cocoon, where it remains immobile until it is time to turn into a butterfly.

By itself, the night butterfly is harmless and safe, but its offspring are extremely gluttonous. Some species eat leaves, roots of plants, others destroy stored food reserves, others damage textile fibers. In this way they cause very great damage.