Everything you need to know about the American white butterfly devouring vegetation in Sochi    

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This year we have some kind of misfortune in the garden.
Out of nowhere, a caterpillar appeared and ate all the leaves on the pear, quince, cherry and plum. We saw the same caterpillars in a forest plantation not far from our site. These caterpillars live in webs in many pieces and simply skeletonize trees. Tell me what kind of pest it is and how to fight it? Dmitry Gromov

Description of the pest

The insect is no more than 3.6 cm wide and 1.5 cm long; despite its miniature size and vulnerability, it has managed to spread to many regions of the globe.

The color of the wings is white, sometimes the wings are painted with black dots. Almost the entire body is covered with scales; there is some difference between males and females in the construction of antennae: males have feathery antennae, females have filamentous antennae, males have orange colored paws.

The female is distinguished by a greenish color of the abdomen before preparing to lay eggs. The eggs themselves are green, which is why they are so colored.

The eggs hatch into caterpillars, which then turn into butterflies. The caterpillar goes through about 7 periods until it turns into a butterfly. The initial length is up to 0.6 cm, the caterpillars live in colonies, and over time they grow.

By changing its age, the caterpillar partially changes its behavior; it becomes more independent.

Appearance

The wingspan of male American butterflies is 2.5 cm–3 cm, which is smaller than that of females: in females this figure can reach 3.6 cm. Although this insect cannot be called large. The peculiarity of butterflies is the snow-white color of the wings and body. The latter has long pubescence, making the insect appear fluffy. Some individuals have a scattering of black or brown spots of small diameter on their wings. The antennae of the butterfly are black, with a slight whitish coating. In females they look like smooth threads, and in males they look like combs.

Female individuals that have not yet laid eggs have an abdomen with a green tint. It appears due to the transillumination of eggs.

The development phases look like this:

1. The caterpillar of the American white butterfly, just born, is colored yellow. At the same time, the head, chest shield and legs are somewhat darker. On the surface of the back there are 2 rows of small black or yellow warts with black and white hairs, and on the sides there are 4 such rows.
2. In the last stage, the caterpillar becomes brown in color. The warts on the back are black, on the sides of the body they are bright orange, with long dark hairs coming out of them. The length of the caterpillar's body is up to 4 cm.
3. The pupa of the American butterfly is brown, located in a gray cocoon. The length is approximately 1.5 cm. The body ends with spines: their number is from 10 to 15 pieces.

A snow-white imago emerges from the pupa.

Reproduction

The emergence of butterflies from pupae after wintering occurs in mid-spring, after an increase in

temperatures up to 10 degrees. At the same time, mating begins, as a result of which the female lays up to 1.5 thousand eggs. They are found in groups of up to 600 eggs on the inside of leaf blades.

Caterpillars subsequently emerge from them, causing damage to fruit plants. Before the cold weather, the larva pupates, settling for the winter in cracks of various buildings and fences, debris on the soil, in grass stems, and dry leaves under trees. The flight of overwintered adults is often timed to coincide with the flowering of apple trees.

Most often, during the summer period, two generations of insects manage to develop, and the females of the second are much more fertile than the first. They are capable of laying up to 2.5 thousand eggs. Flight of the second generation of insects occurs in the second half of July.

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Description of the insect

Eggs

They are quite large, reach 0.5-0.8 mm in diameter, and have an oval shape. The color is initially yellow or green with golden and blue hues, but as the embryo grows it changes to an unpleasant gray. They are located in numerous groups of 100 to 600 eggs. The clutch is covered with whitish hairs taken from the mother's abdomen. The full development cycle ranges from 9 to 15 days.

Caterpillar

Passes through 7-8 instars. The first instar larva has a tuberous body of green color, covered with hairs and bristles. The next three instars are colored pale yellow

a color that darkens after molting.

The oldest caterpillar is light brown with black dots and spots, and the sides are lemon-colored with a wide stripe. There are orange specks on it. There are many hairs of different lengths on the body. The body can reach 35 mm.

The larvae of the fourth moult settle in large groups, which can wrap entire mature trees in their webs. The life cycle of a caterpillar of all ages is from 40 to 45 days.

Doll

It is located in a loose hair cocoon, the color of which gradually turns from light yellow to dark chestnut. The length of the pupa can vary from 8 to 15 mm. The first generation pupa develops in about two weeks.

Imago

A very beautiful snow-white butterfly. Sometimes the wings have a pattern of brown or black dots. The abdomen is covered with many white hairs, which is why it looks fluffy.

Sexual differences are manifested in the length of the wingspan (in females 26–36 mm, in males up to 30 mm) and in the structure of the antennae. The female has thread-like whiskers, the male has comb-like whiskers.

Females whose eggs are inside have a green abdomen.

Maliciousness

Caterpillars of the American white butterfly The insect, a caterpillar of the described species, feeds first on the bark of trees, then on other plants. Older individuals are less demanding of the available food.

Under their influence, the bark of trees is damaged and leaves are destroyed. Plants lose their beauty and weaken under the negative influence of the environment. The tree may even die. As a result, the habitat of animals is narrowed, or at least the condition of the habitat deteriorates.

When the leaves are damaged, the yield decreases by more than 75%, which leads to the death of the crop; a person also suffers from direct contact; the caterpillar can cause an allergic reaction.

Literature

• Bulyginskaya M.A., Shamshev I.V. Sem. Arctiidae. / Insects and mites - pests of agricultural crops (ed. Kuznetsov V.I.). T. 3, part 2. Lepidoptera. St. Petersburg: Nauka, 1999. pp. 320-331.
• Vasiliev V.P., Livshits I.Z. Pests of fruit crops. M.: Kolos, 1984. 399 p.
• Shutova N.N., Smetnik A.I. Quarantine pests, plant diseases and weeds. / Plant quarantine in the USSR (ed. Shamonin A.I., Smetnik A.I.). M.: Agropomizdat, 1986. P. 143-248.

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See what “American white butterfly” is in other dictionaries:

Butterfly of the bear family, a quarantine pest of fruit crops in the North. America and Europe. The wings are snow-white, often with dark spots. Feeds (caterpillars) on leaves, entangles branches with a web ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
— (Hyphantria cunea) butterfly of the bear family. The wingspan is 20-35 mm, snow-white, often with dark spots. Caterpillar 25-35 mm long, velvety brown on top with black warts and long hairs, lemon yellow on the sides... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

American white butterfly

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A butterfly of the bear family, a quarantine pest of fruit crops in North America and Europe. The wings are snow-white, often with dark spots. Feeds (caterpillars) on leaves and entangles branches in a web. * * * AMERICAN WHITE BUTTERFLY AMERICAN... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

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AMERICAN WHITE BUTTERFLY

— (Hyphantria cunea), butterfly of the bear family, pest of many. (over 200) species of plants, especially mulberries and fruit trees. It entered Europe from the North. America in 1940, in the USSR in 1952 (Transcarpathian region). Object of external and internal quarantine. Wings in span... ... Agricultural encyclopedic dictionary

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This year we have some kind of misfortune in the garden. Out of nowhere, a caterpillar appeared and ate all the leaves on the pear, quince, cherry and plum. We saw the same caterpillars in a forest plantation not far from our site. These caterpillars live in webs in many pieces and simply skeletonize trees. Tell me what kind of pest it is and how to fight it?

Dmitry Gromov

American polar bear

The beautiful snow-white hairy-headed bear butterfly is actually a formidable pest for agriculture and forestry. This species, originally from North America, came to Europe in the middle of the last century, from where it spread across Ukraine, southern and western Russia, and penetrated into Turkmenistan and other countries of the Middle East. Experts believe that this could not have happened due to natural reasons and the butterflies came to the mainland with cargo transported across the Atlantic.

The white moth, as this butterfly is sometimes called, is of medium size, its wingspan does not exceed 3.6 cm. Environmentalists and the quarantine service are taking measures to prevent the further spread of this pest.

Where does he live?

As a habitat, individuals choose places protected from dampness and light. They can hide underground, use tree bark, and crevices. A village house with wooden buildings would be a very attractive place for them.

Insects also often hide in warehouses of vegetables and fruits. Often, once in a warehouse, the doll then ends up somewhere else.

The places they use for shelter are also a source of their further spread. This is helped by the ability to move far from the tree on which they lived, 25-30 meters.

What happens to the affected culture?

The leaf and branch on which the white night moth has laid eggs, after the appearance of the caterpillars, are slowly covered with viscous translucent threads, similar in appearance to a cobweb. Over time, entire colonies colonize the garden crop on the site, causing cocoons of cobwebs to form on the plant.

When severely damaged, trees do not overwinter well and often freeze out, causing them to lose their ability to bear fruit or die altogether. Everything is aggravated by the fact that after two months of parasitism on the plant, the caterpillars pupate again and in early August the white moth, the photo from which you see in the article, goes in a second wave to garden crops that have already been damaged and not yet affected by the pest.

How to fight?

So far, there are 2 areas of struggle:

• Use of chemicals;
• Inspection of the area where the pest is believed to be located and its destruction.

The second method is suitable if the area of ​​the site is small, when it is possible to conduct a survey.

The examination is carried out at least once a week; it is not difficult to identify problem leaves: they darken, their edges curl up, as if they are drying up.

It is better to carry out removal in the late afternoon, before dark, by which time the insects gather in their nests. By removing a few leaves, you can get rid of an entire colony. The problem should be solved immediately, before the caterpillars turn into butterflies.

Different preparations are required, depending on what type of plant it is used on and what the characteristics of the soil are.

For example , drugs containing a virus that cause granulosis and nuclear polyhedrosis are used. Their value lies in the fact that insects, in contact with other individuals, spread the disease. Approximately 1/3 of the population dies, the remaining part behaves sluggishly, and the harm from it decreases. In addition, the virus is transmitted to offspring, which encourages developers, because it inhibits the spread of insects.

What can be said about chemicals? Their list is huge, some are suitable for getting rid of various parasites and unwanted guests, others are aimed exclusively against the white butterfly:

• Chlorophos;
• Entobacterin;
• Sevin;
• Rogor;
• Pirinex 40;
• Karbofos;
• Zolon;
• Antio.

Karfbofos, for example, acts on different types of pests, its effect is universal. Antio is also a powerful drug, but its use is harmful to both pets and people.

Research continues, with their help agronomists hope to learn about the pest’s weak points and develop more effective methods.

The problem remains of balancing the use of chemicals and maintaining the purity of products from chemical exposure. It's no secret that insecticides affect people and animals. The presence of chemicals cannot in principle be called normal. After getting rid of an insect, you can become poisoned by the fruits of a tree or plant.

Control measures

Mechanical method

The most effective way to reduce the number of pests is the timely destruction of first-generation nests. Inspection is carried out at least once a week. Found spider web nests are cut off and immediately burned.

Biological method

Many specialized preparations contain the virus that causes white butterfly granulosis and nuclear polyhedrosis. Treatment of affected plants with a similar product immediately destroys up to 35% of the caterpillars; the survivors become ill and can no longer feed intensively, being in a depressed and weakened state.

The drugs act for a long time, because the infection spreads among insects of the entire generation and is transmitted vertically - from mother to offspring.

Folk remedies

• Place large containers (tanks, barrels) under the affected tree at short distances (8-10 cm) from each other. They need to be filled with water. Place pieces of rubber hoses on the edge of the containers. Caterpillars, attracted by moisture, descend to the barrels and are placed in hoses for pupation. Then everything is simple - collect the pieces, wash the pests out of them and destroy them.
• Fill 2 or 3 liter glass jars halfway with kvass and hang them on the affected tree. Such traps collect many caterpillars, which must be periodically removed and killed. Hang the traps back.

Chemicals

To get rid of the American butterfly, garden insecticides that are effective against fruit moths are suitable. These include:

1. Antio is a contact chemical insectoacaricide with a translaminar effect. It is highly toxic to humans and animals.
2. Zolon is an intestinal and contact insecticide in the form of an emulsion concentrate. The main substance is fozalon from the group of organophosphorus compounds.
3. Karbofos is an organophosphorus insectoacaricide that is effective against a large number of pests and parasites.
4. Metaphos is a pesticide that belongs to the group of organic phosphorus compounds. Insecticide and acaricide of intestinal contact action.
5. Phosfamide – 40% emulsion concentrate with insectoacaricidal action. Organophosphorus drug with systemic and contact effects.

Why are white moths dangerous?

In addition, the pest can be deceived by hanging pieces of fabric or burlap between the branches. Usually caterpillars readily peck at such bait. Therefore, when the time comes, it will be enough to remove the tissue with the pupated pest and burn it.

You can also try to catch the moth using light traps or paint the branches and trunk of the tree with water-based horticultural paint, sold in specialty stores. Timely cleaning of dead bark and skeletal branches will help make the search for the pest easier.

In some cases, the use of chemicals is encouraged. Experienced gardeners advise using preparations such as “Marshal”, “Molniya” (toxic to other insects, bee owners should be careful with it) and “Aktofit”.

In addition, in the fight against American moth caterpillars, insecticides against codling moths, for example, “Lepidocip”, “Akarin” or “Fitoverm”, are effective, since the treatment periods for these pests are the same.

It is customary to carry out four sprayings per year:

• during the period of moth flight and egg laying, i.e. approximately after the apple tree blossoms;
• approximately two weeks after the first treatment, at the time the caterpillars appear;
• after another two weeks, a third spraying is carried out;
• the fourth treatment occurs in mid-September; no chemicals are used until next year.

If necessary, you can use the above methods or collect the caterpillars by hand and burn them. However, after the pest has been on the garden crop, it would be useful to feed the plant with vitamins or other additives to ensure a good wintering and harvest for the next year.

You should not hesitate to take action, as such delays can be fatal.

Everything you need to know about the American white butterfly devouring vegetation in Sochi

Why is this pest so dangerous?

So, we need to figure it out: how scary is a butterfly?
The butterflies themselves (snow-white, beautiful) are completely safe, because... do not feed and live for about a week. Butterflies lay eggs - this is also a safe stage of insect development. But the caterpillars are already emerging from the eggs. And here you need to be on your guard. The caterpillars of the American white butterfly are very voracious; at a young age they settle in groups in spider nests, which can reach enormous sizes, sometimes spreading entirely to the crown of a tree.

It feeds on more than 250 species of woody plants, consuming them completely during outbreaks of mass reproduction. In the Sochi region it primarily damages fruit trees (apple, pear, plum, cherry plum, cherry, hawthorn, quince), mulberry, persimmon, ash-leaved maple (or American), liquidambar, hazel, and less often - oak, willow, ailanthus, figs, walnuts walnut, during periods of mass reproduction - viburnum, campsis, ivy, deutia, honey locust, sea buckthorn, privet and some other species. The pest develops two generations: caterpillars of the first generation (depending on weather conditions) appear in the last days of May - in the first half of June, the second generation - in the last days of July - mid-August.

How long does one caterpillar live?

The caterpillar of the American white butterfly lives 6-8 instars (i.e., periods between moults), on average at a temperature of +23 ° C, the development of the caterpillar ends in 20-28 days. If the air temperature is higher, then development is completed in 14-15 days.

Where does the pest go between caterpillar appearances?

When the caterpillars reach older ages, they crawl out of their nests and feed separately on the tree. Then the caterpillars descend down the trunks and pupate in cracks under the bark of trees, in dry leaves, plant debris on the ground, cracks in buildings, fences, and in the soil. The main part of the pupae in the soil is at a depth of 3-5 cm.

What should you do if a pest appears?

If a pest is detected, nests with caterpillars must be cut off and burned. The second effective measure can be trapping belts around tree trunks made of craft paper. The paper is crumpled to create folds and tied around a tree trunk that contains nests. The essence of this technique is that the caterpillars, descending from the tree crown along the trunk to pupate, crawl inside the paper folds in search of shelter to form a pupa. The belts are checked periodically, the tracks are destroyed, or the paper can be pre-smeared with track glue (available at garden centers).

In winter, it is recommended to remove plant debris from under trees damaged by the butterfly, clean their trunks of dead bark and coat them with lime. Biological method of protection: The bacterial preparations Bitoxibacillin, P (40-80 g per 10 l of water) and Lepidocid (20-30 ml per 10 l of water) have high biological effectiveness against younger caterpillars.

Chemical method. In extreme cases, when the pest population is high and it is impossible to reach the nests, chemical treatment is possible: Decis Profi, VDG (0.5 g / 10 l of water); Fastak, CE (3 ml / 10 l of water); Karate Zeon, CE (2-4 ml / 10 l of water), Fury, VE (1 ml / 10 l of water); Senpai, CE (5 ml / 10 l water). When choosing a drug, it is necessary to clarify whether it is included in the “List of Pesticides and Agrochemicals Permitted for Use on the Territory of the Russian Federation”, and when processing in personal gardens, whether use in personal plots is permitted.

During the development of younger caterpillars, plants can be treated with hormonal drugs (inhibitors of insect chitin synthesis, harmless to humans and warm-blooded animals) - Dimilin, SP (1-2 g per 10 l of water) and Herold, VSK (10 ml per 10 l of water) .

Do I need to treat anything other than the crown?

Since only caterpillars are susceptible to the drugs, there is no need to treat the soil around the plant or the trunk.

Why do caterpillars fall to the ground?

Caterpillars usually cling tightly to leaves. But after the treatments, the caterpillars fall en masse to the ground. This is due to the fact that the drugs used against the pest have an intestinal-contact effect and cause not only poisoning and necrotization of caterpillar tissues, but also incoordination of the muscular system. Caterpillars that have fallen to the ground are lethargic and try to climb the tree again, but die within 1-2 days.

Who should treat plants for American white butterfly?

According to the quarantine legislation of the Russian Federation, responsibility for the spread of a quarantine pest lies with the owner of the territory. Thus, municipal territories are processed by city services, local areas are processed by residents or management companies, private households and gardens are processed by the residents themselves.

Why should I cultivate my plantings if my neighbor does not?

Many people ask this question, saying that the pest “comes” to them from areas that are not treated.

Of course, you need to treat your plantings. Firstly, because these are your plantings (you are the owner). This way you save your plants and your harvest. Secondly, even if the caterpillars are reintroduced onto treated plants, they will not be able to feed normally and will die without producing offspring. Thirdly, one female American white butterfly lays 200-2000 eggs, an average of 450. Consequently, treating a plant on which 100-200 caterpillars develop will lead to a decrease in the number of caterpillars of the next generation by 45,000-90,000.

Fourthly, if treatments are not carried out in neighboring areas and the owners refuse to carry them out, this can be reported to the Sochi department of Rosselkhoznadzor (by phone 296-51-91).

If no control measures are used, then how long will it take for the American white butterfly to eat the tree?

Deciduous trees recover quite well after being eaten by leaf-eating pests. But with repeated eating, the plants begin to dry out. Given the current abundance of the American white butterfly, one can fear the death of plants after being completely eaten two or three times. Such damage is especially dangerous during hot periods, i.e. in August.

What fine can those who do not protect plantings from the American white butterfly bear?

To date, fines have been established for the first violation: 300-500 rubles. for individuals and 5000-10000 rubles. for legal entities. Repeated inspections and identification of a pest on your property will result in significantly larger fines.

Are American white butterfly caterpillars dangerous to humans?

American white butterfly caterpillars are exclusively herbivorous. BUT: the abundant hairs covering their body can break off and cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to mechanical irritants (for example, pollen, dust). Caterpillars don't bite people. They can enter a house solely for the purpose of pupating in a shelter.

Authors: Deputy Director for Science of the All-Russian Research Institute of Floriculture and Subtropical Crops, Candidate of Biological Sciences Karpun N.N., Junior Researcher of the Department of Plant Protection V.E. Protsenko

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Folk methods of struggle

Folk remedies are sometimes more practical and cheaper than those offered by official science.

For example , barrels of water are placed under a diseased tree, and hoses are placed on the water. Pests attracted by moisture will climb into the hoses and remain there. Next, all that remains is to destroy the individuals caught in the trap.

container of kvass is made into a trap ; it is very attractive to this type of pest, and they can be pulled out and destroyed from there.

The remedies described are good if you monitor the appearance of the parasite from the very beginning, in the spring, when the weather is already quite warm. It’s easy to notice uninvited guests - look for leaves that have darkened and curled. Having discovered such a leaf, it is advisable to separate it from the branch, and destroy everyone who is in it by crushing it.

Thus, the white American butterfly is a serious pest that destroys various trees, plants, and directly harms humans. The pest is distributed on different continents, withstands bad weather well and easily moves from one place to another.

The main damage is caused by being a caterpillar before turning into a butterfly. To combat it, biological agents (viruses), chemical and folk remedies are used, limiting the use of chemicals or completely eliminating them. A variety of products helps to take into account the specifics of the land and the presence of domestic animals, and to avoid poisoning of animals and humans.

Ways to fight

How to deal with the American butterfly? There are a number of special measures that will indirectly help prevent the appearance of an uninvited guest or reduce its population:

1. Quarantine measures: inspection of supplies, new seedlings, etc.
2. Planting monitoring.
3. Removing dead bark from trees, in which pest pupae can hide in anticipation of spring warmth.
4. Destruction of excess and dry branches.
5. Regular weeding of the area;
6. Plowing the rows between trees and shrubs in the fall.

But these measures are more prevention than a way to combat. There are special remedies for the American butterfly that help destroy it and save fruit and berry crops.

Chemicals

American moth control products should be used with caution because they are toxic. It is very important to follow safety precautions. But these remedies show good results:

• "Antio";
• "Durbasan";
• "Zollon";
• "Metaphos";
• "Nitrafen";
• "Phosfamide."

You can also use systemic insecticides such as Aktara or Karate. They are applied to trees by spraying them with a garden sprayer before flowering, so as not to harm the future harvest.

It is necessary to treat not only the affected trees, but also all plants located within a radius of 50 m. The consumption rate is indicated in the instructions for each drug and depends on the concentration of active substances in it.

Other means

The most primitive way to destroy a butterfly is the mechanical collection of caterpillars. They are easy to spot on the leaves. It is more effective to do this at night or after it has rained, because at this time the caterpillars gather in flocks.

On an industrial scale, biological control methods are often used - the use of viruses and microorganisms that kill the American white butterfly.

You can also make traps from black hoses immersed at one end in a barrel of water. Caterpillars love moisture and warmth, and will certainly climb inside to pupate. Therefore, after 3 days it will be possible to destroy the prey.

An effective way to combat the American butterfly with folk remedies is a trap with beer or kvass. For caterpillars, such drinks are a treat. Therefore, if you hang a small container with a treat on a tree branch, after a few hours the pests will be trapped.

To exterminate a pest on your site, you need to use a set of measures. The use of folk remedies alone will not be enough. When the American white butterfly is driven out of the garden, it is necessary to constantly follow the rules of prevention.

Why are white moths dangerous?

To combat the American white butterfly in individual areas in the fall, the soil is dug up, spider nests are collected and destroyed, trees are cleared of old bark and whitened with lime. The following bacterial preparations are used for pest control: dendrobacillin, bitoxibacillin, lepidocide. Spraying with aqueous suspensions of these drugs is carried out twice, at intervals of 7 days.

Here is an interesting method for collecting the American white butterfly, recognized as an invention by the State Scientific and Technical Expertise. To do this, you need to take standard metal barrels with a capacity of 200 liters each and place them at a distance of 10 m from one another. Fill the barrels with water and place pieces of black rubber hoses 1.2-1.5 m long on top of the edges of the neck, 5 pieces per barrel.

The barrels must be on the ground so that it is convenient for the caterpillars to “enter”. In hot weather, they crawl to the barrels, apparently attracted by the increased evaporation of moisture, climb onto them, and then, in search of optimal places for pupation, they are guided through hoses and penetrate inside. There they most often pupate on the third day.

Life cycle

The embryo located in the egg develops from 6 to 15 days, depending on the ambient temperature. During this time, a caterpillar is formed from it, waiting in the wings to come out. An important factor for caterpillar hatching is the level of air humidity. If it decreases to 50%, then the caterpillar dies even before it is born. The same thing happens to it if the air temperature drops to +12 degrees.

Literally a couple of hours after hatching from the egg, the caterpillars need food. They begin to eat the leaves and at the same time begin to build a nest for later life. In total, caterpillars undergo development at 8-11 instars. Until the age of 5, they live in a nest, the area of ​​which can reach 1.5 m. Having matured, they spread throughout the entire tree. At this stage of development, future butterflies can remain from 38 to 57 days. The duration is influenced by factors such as air temperature and the type of plant on which the caterpillars feed.

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At temperatures above 22 degrees, development occurs faster; this process is also accelerated by eating mulberry, walnut and maple leaves.

Before pupation, the caterpillars actively search for a warm, dry place to hide. They crawl under the bark of trees, into dry leaves on the ground, into the soil. They remain in this form for up to 20 days, while about 15% remain in the pupal stage for a whole year.

Butterflies emerge from pupae at night and are subsequently active only in the dark. They do not live long: up to 4 days for males and no more than 11 for females. During this time, they manage to mate, after which the females of the first generation lay up to 1500 eggs, in the second generation - about 2500.

What harm do they cause?

An interesting fact is that American white butterflies do not eat in the adult stage. They simply do not have a developed oral apparatus. Their vital energy rests on the reserves they made as caterpillars. So they are just dangerous pests. Young caterpillars skeletonize the leaves of many fruit trees, while mature individuals roughly gnaw them. Favorite treats include: apple, plum, mulberry, pear and others. In total, there are about 230 species of plants that serve as food for them.

Eating leaves by caterpillars leads to weakening and even death of plants. With a large percentage of foliage damage, the yield of fruit trees decreases or completely disappears.

Pest control methods

If an American white butterfly is detected on a tree or group of trees, it is necessary to treat absolutely all plants within a radius of 100 m with insecticides. Detected individuals at any stage of development should be immediately destroyed.

The use of chemicals is not always justified, so you can get rid of pests using mechanical methods. To do this, trees are cleared of loose bark and burned. In small areas, spider nests of caterpillars are cut off and destroyed, and special catching belts are used to catch those that have crawled away to pupate in the ground.

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Superphosphate - description, application

Since many individuals of the American white butterfly come from contaminated areas in boxes of fruit and berries, thorough vehicle inspection is an effective way to prevent their importation. If a dangerous insect is detected, the entire cargo is disinfected.

Another method of controlling the butterfly is spraying with biological pesticides. Applying a drug containing a virus to the nest of caterpillars, which is designed specifically to affect this insect, destroys about 30% of the individuals. The rest get sick and weaken.

The use of Chinese pupal entoparasite deserves special attention. An insect called hoyoya develops in the body of the American white butterfly pupa, killing it. This method is effective in more than 80% of cases.

To get rid of a harmful butterfly, you can use a simple folk method. To do this, you need to take several large barrels and place them under the trees every 10 cm. Then water is poured into them and rubber hoses, one and a half meters long, are hung along the edges. The caterpillars will crawl inside the hoses and become pupae within a few days. All that remains is to get them out of there and destroy them.

The American white butterfly poses a real threat to fruit trees, so it is imperative to combat it, preventing it from spreading over large areas. To do this, you need to regularly inspect the trees in your garden and, if a pest is detected, immediately destroy it by any available means.

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Control

Autumn parasites cause relatively little economic damage to forests,

but can cause significant cosmetic damage to fruit and ornamental trees.

American moth caterpillar colonies are limited to individual branches, making pruning and destruction a viable option in many

cases. However, this is difficult to do in tall trees.

You can often control the parasite by breaking it up with a rake or a strong stream of water from a garden hose. To minimize infestation, spider webs should be destroyed while the caterpillars are still small.

On small trees, web tents can be removed by hand or cut down and destroyed. For heavy infestations, spray thoroughly with pesticides labeled for use against caterpillars, which include carbaryl, diazinon or acetate as soon as small caterpillars are visible, this will stop the growth of caterpillars and their nests.

Adding soap or some other surfactant that can provide better wetting to the silk tent should improve control.

Although American moth caterpillar infestations are rarely serious, it is always important to keep your trees healthy. Water the trees in your yard during dry periods, and avoid injuring the trees or compacting the soil within their drip line. Keeping your trees healthy will help your trees recover from defoliation and other stresses and maintain their appearance year-round.

The sense organs of butterflies are presented as follows:

1. Olfactory organs : in a moth they are outgrowths shaped like a cone or a wedge. Around them there are a number of sensory cells that lie in the deep layers of the skin and connect to the nerves responsible for sensory functions. Butterflies' sense of smell is quite acute, and it is thanks to it that they find males, females or food.
2. Hearing organs : some individuals are distinguished by the presence of tympanic organs, which are absent in diurnal moths. Receptors of this type are located on the abdomen or back of the sternum, in special lateral recesses, which are covered with a cuticular membrane (underneath there is a trachea). Sound waves that travel through the air cause the membrane to vibrate, causing cells to be excited and information to be transmitted through sensors.
3. Organs of vision : moths have two faceted eyes that occupy the main surface of the head. These organs of vision have the same structure as those of other insects: they consist of many small elements, including the lens, retina and innervation. As a rule, moths see much better up close than at a distance. The organs of vision of moths are designed, first of all, to detect oncoming movement and move in space themselves.

The eyes of butterflies are designed in such a way that they perceive all information separately. Therefore, the insect receives a mosaic image as output, which enlarges the real image of the object several times.

Eye structure

Hairy butterfly

Hairy butterfly

Hairy butterfly

NIGHT BUTTERFLIES

Hairy butterfly

a group of families of the order of butterflies, or lepidoptera (Lepidoptera), the second largest number of species in the class of insects. Most, as the name suggests, are crepuscular or nocturnal. In addition, night butterflies differ from day butterflies in their structural features. Their body is thicker, and the color of the wings is usually dull, relatively monochromatic. The antennae (antennae) are most often feathery or filamentous, while in daytime butterflies their ends are club-shaped, which is why the lepidoptera of this group are also called clavaceous, and nocturnal butterflies are called heteroptera.

Life cycle. Night butterflies lay eggs singly or in groups. Females can “shoot” them on the fly, introduce them into plant tissue, or carefully place them on pre-selected objects. The eggs hatch into worm-like larvae - caterpillars - with a clearly distinct hard head, a less prominent chest, bearing three pairs of true jointed legs with a terminal claw each, and an abdomen, on which there are usually five pairs of fleshy false legs, the last one at the very end of the body. The false legs of all butterflies end in several hook-shaped bristles. After several molts, the caterpillars turn into pupae, which in most moths are enclosed in a silk cocoon woven by the larva. Silk is produced by large specialized salivary glands. They secrete a protein-rich liquid that hardens into a fiber when exposed to air. This fiber is used for weaving a cocoon, lining an underground chamber dug by a caterpillar before pupation, building shelters, and also for special methods of protection from enemies. Inside the pupa of evolutionarily advanced taxa, the appendages of the developing adult (imago) are tightly pressed to the body and cannot move. After a certain period of time, depending on the species and external conditions, an adult butterfly emerges from the pupa. Structure. The adults of most moths are very similar in appearance. Their body consists of three sections - head, chest and abdomen. The rather small head bears a pair of compound (compounded) eyes and a pair of clearly visible antennae. Most species have two pairs of wings on their chest. The entire body is densely covered with hairs and scales. Oral apparatus. The proboscis of butterflies, which folds into a flat spiral, is considered the most specialized oral apparatus in the class of insects. When not in use, it is usually hidden under thick scales. The expanded proboscis is well adapted for sucking up liquid food and its base opens directly into the pharynx. Non-feeding adults with rudiments of the oral apparatus are rare among butterflies. The most primitive representatives of this order in adulthood are armed with gnawing jaws, which are also characteristic of caterpillars of other groups of insects. Wings. Typical butterflies have two pairs of well-developed wings, densely covered with hairs and scales derived from them. However, the structure of the wings varies greatly: they can be almost completely absent (due to evolutionary degeneration), represent wide planes or narrow, almost linear structures. Accordingly, the ability of different butterflies to fly varies. In a number of forms, for example, some wavefish, the wings are reduced only in females, while males remain good flyers. Species with both winged and wingless females are known. On the other hand, there are species in which the wings are apparently normally developed, but are non-functional as flight appendages; An example of this is the silkworm, which produces commercial silk: its males and females are winged, but cannot fly. Probably the best developed flying apparatus is in the hawk moth family. Their rather narrow wings beat with such frequency that the butterflies not only develop high speeds, but are also capable, like hummingbirds, of hovering in the air and even flying backwards. In a number of moths, for example some hawkmoths and all glass moths, hairs and scales on the plane of the wings are practically absent, but this does not affect the ability to fly. The wings of these species are narrow, and they do not require additional mechanical support created by the scaly cover. In other cases, the system of veins in the wings is significantly reduced, and the supporting function is performed by scales located in a special way on their surface. Some very small butterflies have wings so narrow that they probably could not provide lift if not for the long hairs bordering them. They are located so densely that they increase the area of ​​bearing surfaces in contact with air. The most clear structural difference between nocturnal butterflies and diurnal ones is associated with the mechanisms of coupling of the front and hind wings, i.e. synchronizing their movements in flight. Moths have two of these mechanisms. One of them is called bridle. The frenulum is a subulate-shaped projection extending from the underside of the anterior edge of the hind wing at its base. It is inserted into the so-called retinaculum on the forewing, which in males usually resembles a pocket and is located below at the anterior edge of the wing on the costal vein, and in females it looks like a tuft of setae or stiff hairs at the base of the medial vein. The second mechanism is provided by a narrow blade clinging to the rear wing on the inner edge of the front wing at its base. This structure, called yugum, is known only in a very few of the more primitive forms. In diurnal butterflies, traction is due to a growth on the hind wings that does not correspond to the frenulum. However, there are several known exceptions. One primitive day butterfly retains the frenulum, and some nocturnal butterflies have wings linked together, like day butterflies. Sensory organs. There are special sensory structures on various parts of the body of moths. Olfactory organs. These organs, located on the antennae of most moths, are pineal or wedge-shaped projections with thin cuticular walls. They are innervated by a group of special sensory cells located in the deeper layers of the cuticle and connected to the branches of the sensory nerves. The sense of smell of many moths appears to be very subtle: it is assumed that it is thanks to it that they find representatives of the opposite sex and sources of food. Organs of hearing. Some moths have tympanic hearing organs, although all diurnal moths lack them. These mechanoreceptors are located in the lateral recesses on the metathorax or the first segments of the abdomen. The recesses are covered with a thin cuticular membrane, under which there is a tracheal cavity. Sound waves propagating in the air cause the membrane to vibrate. This stimulates the excitation of special sensory cells, which is transmitted to the branches of the sensory nerves. Organs of vision. The main organs of vision of moths are two large compound eyes, occupying almost the entire upper part of the head. Such eyes, characteristic of most insects, consist of many identical elements independent of each other - ommatidia. Each of them is a simple eye with a lens, a light-sensitive retina and innervation. The hexagonal lenses of several thousand ommatidia of one compound eye of moths form its convex multifaceted surface. A detailed description of the structure and operation of such organs of vision would require too much space here, and it is important to note only one thing: each ommatidia, independently of the others, perceives part of the overall image, which ultimately turns out to be mosaic. Judging by the behavior of moths, their visual acuity, like that of other insects, is good at close range, but they most likely see distant objects rather blurry. However, thanks to the independent work of many ommatidia, the movements of objects within their field of vision are probably perceived even “on an enlarged scale,” since they immediately excite hundreds or even thousands of receptor nerve cells. Consequently, the conclusion suggests itself that eyes of this type are designed primarily for recording movements. Pigmentation. Like daytime butterflies, the coloration of night butterflies is dual in nature - structural and pigmentary. Pigments of various chemical compositions are formed in scales that densely cover the body of the insect. These substances absorb rays of a certain wavelength and reflect others, which represent the part of the solar spectrum that we see when looking at a butterfly. Structural coloring is the result of refraction and interference of light rays and is not associated with the presence of pigments. The layered structure of the wing scales and membranes, as well as the presence of longitudinal ridges and grooves on the scales, lead to the deflection and interaction of “white” solar rays in such a way that certain of their spectral components are enhanced and perceived by the observer as colors. In moths, the coloring in nature is mainly pigmentary. Defense mechanisms. A variety of protective mechanisms have been found in caterpillars, pupae and adults of moths. Shelters. Caterpillars from several fairly distant families of moths appear to have independently acquired similar defensive behaviors. A good example is bagworms and case-carriers. In the bagworm family, the caterpillars build silken houses with pieces of debris and leaves attached to the outside almost immediately after hatching. The structure of the shelter is such that only the front part of the larva protrudes from it, which, if disturbed, is completely retracted inside. The size of the house increases as the caterpillar grows, until it finally grows and pupates inside this “bag” of its own, reaching a length of 2.5-5 cm. After a few weeks, a winged male emerges from there, and the females of some genera remain in the house , and mating occurs with the help of a highly specialized copulatory organ, which the male inserts there. After fertilization, the female lays eggs in her sac and either dies next to them, never coming out, or, in some species, she crawls out to immediately fall to the ground and die. Caseworm caterpillars build similar portable houses from pieces of leaves, shed larval integument and similar materials, holding them together with the secretion of the salivary glands and their excrement. Hairs, glands and other larval structures. Caterpillars of some species are armed with stinging hairs or bristles. On their sharp peaks, ducts of poisonous skin glands open, the secretion of which, when injected into the enemy’s body, causes irritation of his integument. Special glands in larvae from various families moisten the body surface with a liquid that most likely has a repellent effect on the main predators dangerous to these species. Some caterpillars, if disturbed, begin to squirm violently, others curl up into a tight ball or pretend to be dead. In many cases, at the moment of danger, they fall from the branches like a stone and hang on the silk threads released during the fall. To get back, the caterpillar climbs the silk, moving through it with its oral appendages and front thoracic legs. In the larvae of many hawk moths, the eighth abdominal segment bears large outgrowths in the form of horns on the back. The disturbed caterpillar with a sharp movement directs them towards the enemy. In many larvae, long, more or less spiny hairs, which densely cover the body, serve as effective protection against parasites and predators. Protective devices of pupae. The pupal stage of moths is characterized by a number of features that increase the chances of survival. Pupae resting in the soil are distinguished by an inconspicuous color that blends into the background. Silk cocoons, woven by most moths, serve as an effective device that protects against predators and parasites. The well-known silkworm has three layers. The outer layer is loose, the middle layer is dense, and the inner layer is filmy. This design makes the defenseless doll inside almost invulnerable. Protective painting. Caterpillars and adults of moths widely use protective (cryptic) and warning (repellent) coloration. The latter attracts the attention of predators and is accordingly demonstrated by species that possess some kind of powerful defense. For example, many caterpillars are brightly colored, have an unpleasant taste caused by the secretion of special glands, or are covered with stinging hairs. The cryptic coloration, which allows them to blend into the background, is simply fantastically developed in the larvae of some species. If a caterpillar finds food on a coniferous tree, it may be virtually identical in color and shape to the needles or scales surrounding it. In other species, the larvae not only resemble small twigs in their appearance, but also rise on the branches at the moment of danger so as to further emphasize this similarity. This mechanism is characteristic, for example, of moths and some ribbon moths. Cryptic coloration in imago moths can be illustrated by a huge number of examples. Resting individuals of some species from families distant from each other resemble heaps of bird droppings, while others blend perfectly with the granite rocks, bark, leaves or flowers on which they usually sit. Ribbon flies display bright warning colors on their hind wings in flight, but are almost indistinguishable at rest, since the cryptic pattern of the fore wings folded on the back perfectly camouflages the insect on stones or tree trunks. The wings of many moths bear spots very similar to the wide open eyes of large predators. This scares away enemies who try not to risk finding out the true size of the animal “looking” at them. Industrial melanism is one of the most interesting phenomena that has attracted the attention of biologists to moths for many years. In populations, against the background of normally colored insects, there is often a small percentage of darker individuals (melanists). The formation of pigments in them is different from others, due to a gene mutation, i.e. is inherited. It has been noted that over the last century, the proportion of melanized forms in the populations of some species of moths has increased significantly, and this happened in industrial areas, mainly in Europe. Often, dark butterflies almost completely replace light ones, which were previously considered the species norm. Obviously, we are talking about some kind of rapidly developing evolutionary process. A study of species with industrial melanism showed the following. The probability of survival of “normal” ones, i.e. light forms in rural areas are higher than among melanists, since it is the normal color that is cryptic in this type of environment. True, dark butterflies have a physiological advantage - they survive in conditions of nutritional deficiency (lack of some nutritional components), which is lethal for their light-colored counterparts, but, obviously, insects are faced with the danger of attack by predators more often than with an inadequate diet, so melanists do not only they do not displace normal individuals, but also remain in the minority. In industrial areas, many objects on which butterflies usually land are covered with soot, and dark coloring here camouflages better from enemies than normal light coloring. In addition, in conditions where food plants suffer from pollution, the reduced requirements of melanists for food quality become of particular importance. As a result, they displace normal butterflies in an industrial environment, and if the danger of nutritional deficiency becomes more important than attacks by predators, they sharply increase their presence in rural areas. Thus, the fundamental position of modern evolutionary theory is confirmed: genes that give an organism some advantage spread throughout the population if they do not simultaneously lead to the appearance of traits that reduce fitness. It is interesting to note that melanistic coloration, which has spread among butterflies in industrial and neighboring rural areas, is inherited as a dominant trait. The phenomenon of industrial melanism still requires further study. Being an excellent example of an evolutionary process occurring very quickly before our eyes, it makes it possible to better understand some of its fundamental mechanisms. Spreading. Moths are found on all continents except Antarctica and on most oceanic islands. Obviously, the ability of adults to fly has become the most important factor explaining the wide distribution of most species. However, some taxa have different main methods of dispersal. Thus, at high altitudes and in places very remote from the expected hatching areas, young caterpillars were caught traveling through the air on the silk threads they secreted. The spread of species is also facilitated by the attachment of eggs to logs and other objects, which are then transported, for example, by flood waters or wind. Many moths have symbiotic relationships with other species, and their habitats practically coincide with the distribution area of ​​​​the “hosts”. An example is the yucca moth, which breeds in yucca flowers. Economic importance of moths. Benefit. Since the oral apparatus of the vast majority of adult moths is a soft proboscis that is not capable of piercing animal and plant tissue, the adults of these insects rarely cause harm to humans. In many cases, they feed on flower nectar, bringing undeniable benefits as pollinators of important crops. An example of such benefit and at the same time symbiotic interdependence is the relationship of the yucca moth with yucca plants. The flower of the latter is designed in such a way that fertilization of the ovules and the development of seeds from them is impossible without the help of a pollinator. Such assistance is provided by the female Yukkova Mol. Having collected pollen from several flowers, she sculpts a ball out of it, which carefully places a pestle on a stigm, thereby ensuring the fertilization of the stems in the ovary, where she lays her eggs. Yucca's developing seeds are the only food of her larvae, which, however, eat only their small percentage. As a result, the complex behavior of the imago of these night butterflies unusually ensures the reproduction of well -defined plants. Several species of yukkov moley are known, each of which is symbiotically associated with one or more types of Yukka. Harm. The caterpillars of night butterflies are very voracious. They can damage the leaves, stems and roots of plants, eat stored foods, spoil various fibers and other materials. Larvae of many types of night butterflies cause significant damage to agriculture. Everyone knows the harm of moly cratophages. They fold eggs on wool and fur with which their larvae feed on. The fibers of these materials are used by some species for the construction of doll cocoons. Smile pests are grain mole, or barley, an Indian flour moth and mill fire, destroying grain in warehouses. All three species are cosmopolitans, i.e. Distributed almost around the world, and to reduce the damage they cause, it is necessary to constantly treat insecticides. Caterpillars of many species belong to the group of the so -called leaf miners (from the English miner - miner) - they feed on vegetable fabrics in the depths of the sheet and for this they rush long winding moves and vast cavities under its epidermis. Larvae of other species lay tunnels inside the branches, roots and trunks, conducting all the immature life inside the host plant, providing pests with reliable protection against parasites, predators and trying to fight them. Probably, the most noticeable type of damage caused to the plants is defoliation, i.e. The destruction of foliage. Hungry larvae of butterflies can literally expose fields, gardens and even forest stands.

Parasitic butterflies that appear in cereals

The larvae of food Indian moths, granary moths and flour moths often settle in household cereal stocks. Externally, the moths resemble ordinary clothes moths, which eat woolen items. Over the course of 2 weeks, the female lays about 500 small eggs. After a few weeks, grayish-white larvae emerge from them, feeding on cereals.

Advice! A moth-infested product can be brought from a supermarket, because the larvae easily eat through cardboard and paper packaging. When cleaning kitchen cabinets, use a vacuum cleaner that will pull out moths even from deep cracks. Treat dishes and cereal containers with a vinegar solution. Sticky pheromone traps can be placed on slower male moths.

What harm does it cause to plants?

This polyphagous pest causes damage to more than 200 species of fruit trees and shrubs. He is especially popular with:

• mulberry;
• nut;
• Apple tree;
• pear;
• plum;
• cherry;
• cherries;
• quince;
• apricot;
• peach;
• rose hip.

The damage to trees caused by the butterfly is that:

1. Only the newly hatched caterpillars immediately begin to eat the fleshy part of the leaf, leaving only a skeleton of veins. Older individuals eat the entire leaf.
2. In the process of life, living in colonies, they form a nest, entwining entire branches, or even the entire tree, with cobwebs.
3. The second generation of caterpillars, which is even more numerous, eats fruit crops until autumn.
4. Another danger is that these lepidopterans are spreading around the world at tremendous speed, destroying an increasing number of green spaces. And they do this not thanks to their small wings, but by moving in packaging containers, in planting material, in boxes of fruit.

On trees damaged by caterpillars, wood growth slows down.

Metabolic processes in plants are disrupted and protective functions are weakened. As a result of damage, trees may not tolerate frost and die or produce poor yields for several years.

The south of Russia was attacked by a white American butterfly

American white butterfly

White American butterfly about 230 plants of all kinds and varieties. The greatest damage is caused to the cultivated plants that we grow in our gardens: apple, pear, cherry, and mulberry.

What does this pest look like? The butterfly is really white, they are very large and sometimes have black dots on their wings.

The caterpillar is small in size, about 3 cm. It lives for about 40-45 days before the pupation stage. During these 40 days she is able to eat a lot.

What exactly is this pest scary about? The fact is that this American butterfly, as a rule, spreads not with the help of its own wings. She's quite progressive. She uses all kinds of means of transportation. Which ones are our transport? The fact is that it is distributed, as a rule, in containers, packaging, and planting material.

Very soon our trees turn into such a continuous cocoon of eaten leaves and cobwebs. Indeed, if a tree is severely affected, there is virtually no chance of surviving the winter. Or at least next year it will produce a very poor harvest. There are several methods of struggle. Well, if the damage is not severe, you find one or two branches like this - immediately cut and burn. Otherwise, it all spreads very quickly.

Just mechanically. You can try to act deceptively, creating all kinds of traps. The fact is that after rain or in the evening, these caterpillars try to accumulate somewhere in secluded places. You can put some rags, some old burlap in the forks of the trees. And then in the evening, when the caterpillars gather there, just take it and destroy it all.

Some people place containers with water, some large barrels, and pieces of hoses are placed next to the edges. These hoses, closer to the water, they climb up and spend the night there, these caterpillars. Only then are they removed from there and destroyed. But these methods are quite labor-intensive. There are even more interesting methods.

Well, of course, if the damage is very severe, you will have to resort to chemistry. Although it is undesirable to allow it to reach such a state. In principle, most systemic insecticides are suitable; they are absorbed into the plant tissue and, by eating them, the caterpillar is gradually poisoned.

Well, we know that these methods are not very good for the environment. That's why I say it's better to avoid them. There are other ways. There are specially created viral drugs that act directly on the caterpillar. These viral drugs, getting inside the caterpillar, cause illness in it. The caterpillar either dies or looks very depressed.

An outbreak of American white butterfly in the Krasnodar region

Sochi was attacked by American white butterfly caterpillars

The real war is unfolding on the streets of Sochi. Agronomists are going on the attack against an insidious enemy - the caterpillars of the American white butterfly. This year, the south of the country is experiencing an unprecedented pest invasion. 200 tree species are under threat.

Author: Head of the plant protection department of the Agro-Industrial Complex “Vitus” Konstantin Yurievich Sinelnikov

Specialists of the plant protection department of AIC "Vitus" carry out entomological and phytopathological examination of green spaces, develop individual action plans for plant protection, treat green spaces with protective agents and provide comprehensive plant care.

Plant Protection Department of AIC "Vitus": [email protected]

8

Reasons for appearance

Many people wonder where food moths come from in a house where regular cleaning is carried out. She cannot accidentally get into the apartment from the street, since she is not capable of flying that well. Those butterflies that flutter indoors are males. Female moths move much more slowly, mostly hopping from place to place. Therefore, even if a male individual has flown into a dwelling, it will not be able to reproduce without a female one.

Inside the bags there are already eggs or moth caterpillars, which then spread throughout the apartment. They get there through cuts, tears, punctures in the packaging or during packaging of goods at the factory.

Comfortable conditions for the reproduction of food moths are a temperature of 22...25°C and air humidity above 60%.

Harm to plants

Due to its large numbers, strong fertility, polyphagism and the development of at least two generations per season, the American white butterfly is a very dangerous pest.

garden crops. The second and subsequent generations cause the most significant harm.

The caterpillars eat the leaves of rosehip, mulberry, walnut, apple, plum, bird cherry, quince, apricot, pear, peach - a total of more than 200 varieties of herbaceous, tree and shrub plants.

In leaf blades they eat away all the contents between the veins. Also, the leaves are used to make a hair nest.

With a large number of individuals in a population, a group may leave a mature tree completely without leaves. As a result of their activity, the plant is weakened, reducing fruiting and winter hardiness.

Characteristics and body structure of the caterpillar

The caterpillar consists of 13 segments, three of which are thoracic and ten are abdominal. The appearance of all types of insects is slightly different, however, in general, their structure can be divided into basic identical parts. To understand whether a caterpillar is an insect or not, you need to look at its structure, which is characteristic only of insects.

Head

The head is covered with a dense capsule, which consists of 6 layers. In addition, the area located between the forehead and eyes is isolated. They call it cheeks. At the bottom of the face is the back of the head, which is shaped like a heart. Horned caterpillars have an outgrowth consisting of hard hair. Based on the location of the head, the following types of parasites are distinguished:

1. Orthognathic - the central axis of the head ball is perpendicular to the body. The oral apparatus is located in the lower part. Such caterpillars lead a free lifestyle and feed on plant foods.
2. Prognathic - the central axis of the head is a continuation of the axis of the body. The mouthparts are convex and directed forward. Such insects usually migrate from one house to another. The type is equipped with a flattened “face”, there is no seam on the parietal region. The head is shaped like a heart.
3. Semi-prognathic - transition from the first type to the second. This type of caterpillar is secretive.

Chest and abdomen

To understand how many legs caterpillars have, it is necessary to consider the structure of their chest and abdomen. There are 3 pairs of legs in the thoracic region, and 5 in the abdominal region.

The saddle body of the caterpillar is constantly in motion. Therefore, nature has given a soft coating to cover it. The abdominal part is divided into ten segments. Each plot can be divided into additional sections. Not every person will notice this division with the naked eye.

The breathing apparatus, called the stigma, is located on the chest. The exception is aquatic insects, which have tracheal gills instead of a stigma. Stigmas are rings with the help of which the caterpillar receives air. In total, there are 8 pairs of stigmas on the insect’s abdomen, but the caterpillar breathes only with the help of one.

The anus is located at the back of the body and is surrounded by 4 shoulder blades. But only some of them, depending on the species, are mobile. The lower shoulder blade consists entirely of meat and does not move. But the supranal scapula constantly rises during bowel movements. Also in the rear part there is a spinning apparatus, which is a papilla with a sclerite.

Limbs

The abdominal legs are shaped like hooks and are found in various parts of the body. The caterpillar limbs consist of 5 parts:

• pelvis;
• trochanters;
• thighs;
• shins;
• paws.

The limbs located on the sternum are practically atrophied and are unable to move.

The articulated claw is the area with which the insect moves its body. This claw is called the sole. The sole has 2 types of structure:

1. The edge of the foot has a round outline in the form of a ring. The muscle responsible for retraction is located in the center.
2. The outer part is reduced and filled with muscles. On its inner part, along the perimeter, there are hooks.

Body coverings and their appendages

The body of the caterpillar is always covered with some kind of formations. They are divided into cuticular, outgrowths and hair. Some insects use them to their advantage, protecting themselves from enemies.

Cuticular formations are a solid form in the form of lard, granules, and stars. Also on the body of the insect you can find hard hairs - chaetoids.

The hair found on the bristles differs from the cuticular elements in its structure and internal cells. A substance is formed in the hair - hypodermis, which gives softness to the ends. The hair is located in a special edging, in the shape of a ring, which has a strong protein base. Hair varies in appearance, in some types it is in the form of a thread, while in others it is in the form of bristles.

The outgrowths formed on the skin of an insect are hard structures made of skin. In nature, there are cases where internal outgrowths were found in caterpillars.

You can also find warts on the body of insects. Warts are projections covered with stubble or hair. There are spherical, flattened and ellipsoidal formations. A large amount of body hair is called spines.

Caterpillars that live in water have tracheal gills, which are a large number of filaments located in the trachea.

The most dangerous butterflies

List of the most dangerous butterflies

Poisonous butterflies can be found anywhere in the world. What colors are butterflies? The bright color of the insect warns of its toxicity. As adults, carnivorous butterflies are rarely poisonous, but similar specimens exist.

Kinds:

1. Individuals of the Uranium family are found in the tropics. They have bright colors with a metallic sheen. The individuals received their second name - sunset - for their beautiful color. Insects lay their eggs in plants of the euphorbia family, which have poisonous sap. Caterpillars eat leaves and stems, toxic substances gradually accumulate in them, causing the insect to become addicted to such poison.
2. The Danaid family is represented by beautiful large butterflies. They are called kings, monarchs for their wide wingspan in shades of red and brown. They are found in North America. Birds, seeing the bright color of the insect and the characteristic stripes on the wings, do not touch them. The eggs of such individuals can be found on cottonweed, a very poisonous plant. The caterpillars eat the leaves and accumulate poison in their bodies. Insects winter in Central America, where they fly for four months.
3. Lepidoptera of the heliconid family differ in appearance - they have narrow wings, long antennae, and red-yellow colors. The poison, cyanide, accumulates in the insect’s body during food digestion. Such individuals gather in flocks at night and scatter in the morning. Such butterflies have a high life expectancy.
4. A poisonous butterfly from the family of moths is called the goldworm or golden silkworm. It lives in eastern Russia, North America, and some parts of Europe. The insect is small in size and has white wings. It is not the adult itself that is poisonous, but its caterpillar. It is a brown insect with long hairs and white spots. It is not recommended to touch it.
5. The Kaya bear is also one of the poisonous butterflies found in Russia, Europe and Asia. It has a bright color - the front wings differ from the hind wings, they are brown and white. The hind wings are bright orange with blue round spots. Both adults and larvae are dangerous.
6. Antimachus is the largest butterfly in the world; its wingspan can exceed twenty centimeters. The color is yellowish, closer to ocher; all wings have a pattern of black lines and spots. The front wings are more elongated. The anti-mage has no enemies; it is the most poisonous lepidoptera.
7. The Kotzebue butterfly also poses a risk to birds and small animals due to the accumulation of toxins during its caterpillar state.

This is a small list of dangerous butterflies that can harm animals and people. It is recommended to be aware of common poisonous insects so as not to touch or be near them.

How butterflies protect themselves

Some Lepidoptera acquired the color of their wings, allowing them to blend in with their environment: brown - the color of tree trunks, while blue ones are inconspicuous in flight, against the sky. There are also white representatives that blend in with the flowers. Brightly colored butterflies tend to have an unpleasant taste, and birds will spit them out.

Since butterflies most often die in the caterpillar state, since caterpillars are slow and clumsy, some individuals have villi on their bodies that cause intestinal irritation. Birds avoid unpleasant fuzzy larvae. The swallowtail caterpillar secretes a substance that repels birds with its smell.

It is noteworthy that blueberry butterflies are protected by ants. Little workers find bluebird larvae and bring them to the anthill. The larvae develop and turn into caterpillars. The caterpillars feed on ant larvae, and the ants feed on the substance secreted by the blueberry caterpillar. Thus, the caterpillars find themselves protected in the anthill. This is where they feed and winter. Well, the most aggressive type of defense is toxicity.

Blueberries are very beautiful

Which butterflies are the most dangerous?

There are poisonous lepidoptera in Europe. People gave them truly royal names: monarch and their closest relative, viceroy. The only difference between them is that one of them has a black stripe on its wings, while the other does not have this stripe.

The monarch acquires its poisonousness while it is in the state of a caterpillar, which feeds on poisonous cottonweed. The Viceroy produces the poison himself. These butterflies are especially dangerous to birds.

What other poisonous butterflies live on earth are indicated in the table.

Name Habitat area Color Why it is harmful and dangerous

Which butterflies are dangerous at the caterpillar stage

The golden silkworm lives on the territory of Russia. The white butterfly itself is harmless, but the poison that causes allergies in humans is contained in the caterpillar. The golden silkworm or moth is also found in Europe and North America.

Ursa Kaya is a dangerous species of butterfly

The bear Kaya is another representative of poisonous Lepidoptera. Lives in Russia, Europe and Asia. The front wings are brown and white, the hind wings are orange with blue round spots. It is poisonous at all stages of development, starting from the larva.

The Kotzebue butterfly, or its second name kochubey, is blue-black with crimson speckles. It also poses a risk to birds and small animals due to the accumulation of toxins during its caterpillar state. Lives in the Philippine Islands and Malaysia. The local population calls this insect the purple rose.

For the most part, the poison of butterflies is dangerous for birds, small animals and insects that dare to feast on the flying beauty or its caterpillar. But there are individuals that can incapacitate a person.

How can you get poisoned?

Of course, a person does not eat butterflies, and he cannot eat a poisonous individual (like mushrooms) by mistake. However, poisonous butterflies can cause harm to humans. Some individuals are allergenic and, in contact with the skin, they can provoke an allergic reaction of varying severity.

Lonomia caterpillars are very poisonous

People who often vacation in exotic countries or on islands simply need to know the danger that butterflies that are poisonous to humans pose. You should not try to catch them, you should not contact them. For example, the Lonomia butterfly lives in humid forests, which is extremely dangerous as a dark-colored caterpillar with spikes.

It contains toxins that block blood clotting. Probably everyone knows how dangerous such a disease is. Bleeding occurs that cannot be stopped, and internal bleeding poses a greater danger than open bleeding. Brain hemorrhage may occur.

Lonomy caterpillars hide in the foliage of trees, and inquisitive tourists and local farmers often become their victims. A person who has been poisoned needs medical attention. Otherwise, death is possible.

The hairy caterpillar is a fluffy and cute creature that you just want to touch. She lives in the northern USA. However, this cute creature is insidious: under the soft, delicate fluff are hidden thorns, which, when broken, inject poison under the skin. The person experiences all the signs of acute poisoning. However, these signs go away on their own after 1-5 days, depending on the amount of poison received.

From this video you will learn about the most dangerous insects:

First aid for butterfly poisoning

What to do if you experience symptoms of butterfly poisoning? Often exposed areas of the body are affected - face, arms, legs. Sometimes the eyes, respiratory tract, and digestive organs are affected. Symptoms of poisoning differ depending on the type of butterfly. At the site of the bite, the skin becomes red and hot to the touch.

Severe itching and spots spreading throughout the body are possible. In case of severe poisoning, an increase in body temperature, nausea, and pain in muscle tissue is possible.

If poisoning occurs, it is recommended to call a doctor and explain to him what happened. Before the doctor appears, the victim is given first aid. What is allowed to be done in such a case?

Sources

• https://beetlestop.ru/amerikanskaya-belaya-babochka/
• https://stopvreditel.ru/rastenij/selxoz/amerikanskaya-babochka.html
• https://bezbukashek.ru/babochki/jeffektivnye-i-prostye-sposoby-borby-s-beloj-amerikanskoj-babochkoj
• https://www.ogorod.ru/ru/now/pests/15280/Amerikanskaya-babochka-vstrechayte-novogo-sadovogo-vreditelya.htm
• https://gardenaddict.ru/ogorod/vrediteli/amerikanskaya-belaya-babochka.html
• https://vogorode.com/ogorod/vrediteli/amerikanskaya-babochka.html
• https://otravlen.info/yady/jadovitye-babochki.html
• https://vrediteli24.ru/nasekomye/jadovitye-babochki.html

Harm to plants

These pests have well-developed jaws and are highly fertile and survivable, which is why they are very dangerous.

The most significant harm to agriculture is caused by the second and subsequent generations of American white butterflies.

Caterpillars destroy the leaves of walnut, mulberry, rose hip, apricot, bird cherry, apple, quince, plum, pear and peach. These pests attack a total of 200 species of trees and shrubs. They eat away all the contents of the leaf blades. In addition, they make nests from leaves.

Growing plants and planting trees is not an easy task, given that nature itself has a negative impact on the fruits of human labor. For example, the American white butterfly

. What is she like?