Butterflies look very fragile and harmless creatures. But in wildlife, such a luxury is simply not permissible. The owners of the painted wings have too many enemies, and they found ways to defend themselves. Some of them like to disguise themselves, while others prefer to poison their offenders. What are the most poisonous butterflies in the world? Let's find out.
Butterfly protection
Together with moths and moths, butterflies belong to the lepidopteran insect. They have the most diverse appearance, reaching from 2 mm to 30 centimeters in size. Most of them have an oval elongated torso, a small neat head and a pair of wings covered with microscopic scales. This is the adult stage of butterflies - the imago. But in order to achieve it, they have to go through several stages of development: an egg, a caterpillar and a chrysalis.
Butterflies do not have sharp stings, teeth or claws, but they have enough enemies. They are eaten by birds, lizards, rodents, toads and predatory insects. In a direct battle, it is difficult for butterflies to resist the enemy and there are few chances to beat off the attacker. But they can prevent the threat.
Many types of camouflage or repellent color help. For example, glass-boxes copy the appearance of a wasp, and honeysuckle hawk mimics a bumblebee. The raspberry ribbon is skillfully disguised as a tree bark, and Saturn repels enemies with the image of eyes on its wings. There are poisonous butterflies that can not only scare, but also harm the enemy. The uneasy nature of these insects is usually evidenced by a bright warning color.
Poisonous butterflies
Enemy poisoning is not the most common technique among butterflies, especially in the adult stage. This tool is often used caterpillars, which have special glands that produce toxic secretions. A number of species can be very dangerous - one touch of their representatives leads to death, fever or severe inflammation. Screaming color and hairs on the body are the first sign that these tracks should not be approached.
Adult butterflies rarely turn out to be so poisonous as to substantially harm a person or a large mammal. They, like some caterpillars, do not produce toxins on their own, but use those that secrete plants. Feeding on nectar and leaves of poisonous species, they are saturated with harmful substances and become completely inedible for predators.
Which butterflies are poisonous? “Poisoners” include many species of Danaids, sailboats, representatives of night-lights and dipper. Contact with them can lead to irritation, inflammation, allergies and other consequences.
Goldfish
The poisonous butterfly from the family of the flies is also called the Zolotochka and the golden silkworm. In Europe, it is distributed from the shores of the Mediterranean to the south of Sweden and Finland, found in eastern Russia and North America.
This is a small insect with white shaggy wings, the span of which reaches only 3-4 centimeters. The butterfly lives in mixed forests, in cool orchards and parks, causing significant harm to trees.
Poisonous goldfish is at the caterpillar stage. You can recognize it during this period by its brown color with yellow-white longitudinal stripes and bunches of long brown hair. After touching the caterpillar, it becomes harder to breathe, and a rash and scars appear on the skin. You can fight symptoms with a compress of calcium chloride and antihistamines.
Common bear
Ursa Kaya is one of the poisonous butterflies of Russia, living from the Caucasus Mountains to the Far East. In addition, it is common in Europe and in some countries of Asia. The front wings of the butterfly are white-brown, the hind wings are painted in a bright orange-red color with several blue round spots. They live in meadows, fly at dusk and at night, and during the day rest in shelter. They feed on herbs, mountain ash, willow and other plants.
Troubles can be expected from both the larval and adult forms of the dipper. Their caterpillars are covered with thick red-brown hairs that can cause allergies, inflammation and conjunctivitis. Adult butterflies, sensing danger, secrete a yellowish liquid with an unpleasant odor. It has the same effect as caterpillar hairs.
Sailboat Antimach
Antimach is the largest butterfly of the African continent. The wingspan is 18-23 centimeters. It is painted in an ocher color, against which a pattern of brown and black lines and spots is placed. The front wings are oblong and strongly elongated upwards.
Antimach sailboat has no natural enemies, because it is one of the most poisonous butterflies in the world. It lives in the tropical rainforests of equatorial Africa - from Liberia and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
