[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":414},["ShallowReactive",2],{"glossary_en:\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie":3,"alt-locale:glossary_en:\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie":198,"section-listing:disabled":223,"related-covers:en:":224,"section-listing:glossary_en:\u002Fslovar":225,"related-covers:en:\u002Fslovar\u002Fgusenica|\u002Fslovar\u002Fbiotop|\u002Fslovar\u002Fovipozitsiya|\u002Fzhizn-babochek\u002Fchem-pitayutsya-babochki":408},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"coverImage":183,"description":184,"extension":185,"faq":186,"imagePrompt":196,"meta":197,"navigation":198,"order":199,"pageType":200,"path":201,"publishedAt":202,"readingMinutes":203,"relatedLinks":204,"seo":217,"sitemap":220,"stem":221,"tags":199,"updatedAt":199,"__hash__":222},"glossary_en\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie.md","Host plant",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":175},"minimark",[9,14,21,36,40,124,128,131,134,138,141],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"what-is-a-host-plant","What is a host plant",[15,16,17,20],"p",{},[18,19,5],"strong",{}," (food plant) is a plant species whose leaves, stems, or flowers a caterpillar of a given butterfly species feeds on. Females lay eggs on the host plant — otherwise the newly hatched caterpillar will starve.",[15,22,23,24,27,28,31,32,35],{},"Most butterfly species are ",[18,25,26],{},"monophages"," (feed on one plant species or genus) or ",[18,29,30],{},"oligophages"," (a narrow group of related species). True ",[18,33,34],{},"polyphages"," that eat a wide range of plants are few among day-flying butterflies.",[10,37,39],{"id":38},"host-plants-of-common-species-in-russia","Host plants of common species in Russia",[41,42,43,56],"table",{},[44,45,46],"thead",{},[47,48,49,53],"tr",{},[50,51,52],"th",{},"Butterfly species",[50,54,55],{},"Caterpillar host plant",[57,58,59,68,76,84,92,100,108,116],"tbody",{},[47,60,61,65],{},[62,63,64],"td",{},"Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)",[62,66,67],{},"Carrot, dill, parsley, hogweed (Apiaceae)",[47,69,70,73],{},[62,71,72],{},"Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)",[62,74,75],{},"Stinging nettle",[47,77,78,81],{},[62,79,80],{},"Peacock (Aglais io)",[62,82,83],{},"Stinging nettle, hop",[47,85,86,89],{},[62,87,88],{},"Large white (Pieris brassicae)",[62,90,91],{},"Cabbage, radish, nasturtium (Brassicaceae)",[47,93,94,97],{},[62,95,96],{},"Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)",[62,98,99],{},"Alder buckthorn, common buckthorn",[47,101,102,105],{},[62,103,104],{},"Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)",[62,106,107],{},"Nettle, raspberry, thistle",[47,109,110,113],{},[62,111,112],{},"Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)",[62,114,115],{},"Thistle, burdock, nettle",[47,117,118,121],{},[62,119,120],{},"Mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)",[62,122,123],{},"Willow, birch, poplar",[10,125,127],{"id":126},"why-specialization-is-so-strict","Why specialization is so strict",[15,129,130],{},"Caterpillars have specialized enzymes to neutralize toxins of their host plant. They cannot switch to another plant — their digestive system is not adapted to detoxify unfamiliar substances.",[15,132,133],{},"That is why loss of a host plant from a biotope leads to loss of the dependent butterfly species.",[10,135,137],{"id":136},"how-to-attract-butterflies-to-a-garden","How to attract butterflies to a garden",[15,139,140],{},"Plant host plants — and butterflies will come on their own:",[142,143,144,151,157,163,169],"ul",{},[145,146,147,150],"li",{},[18,148,149],{},"Nettle"," — for small tortoiseshell, peacock, red admiral",[145,152,153,156],{},[18,154,155],{},"Carrot, dill, parsley"," — for swallowtail",[145,158,159,162],{},[18,160,161],{},"Cabbage"," — for large white and small white",[145,164,165,168],{},[18,166,167],{},"Clover, alfalfa"," — for sulphurs and blues",[145,170,171,174],{},[18,172,173],{},"Buckthorn"," — for brimstone",{"title":176,"searchDepth":177,"depth":177,"links":178},"",2,[179,180,181,182],{"id":12,"depth":177,"text":13},{"id":38,"depth":177,"text":39},{"id":126,"depth":177,"text":127},{"id":136,"depth":177,"text":137},"\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie.jpg","A host plant is a plant whose leaves a caterpillar of a given butterfly species feeds on. Most species are strictly specialized on 1–3 host plants.","md",[187,190,193],{"q":188,"a":189},"What is a host plant for butterflies?","A host plant is a plant that serves as food for the caterpillar of a given species. Most species are strictly specialized: the swallowtail caterpillar eats only umbellifers, the small tortoiseshell caterpillar eats only nettle.",{"q":191,"a":192},"Why do caterpillars eat only certain plants?","Caterpillars have evolved enzymes to digest toxins of specific plants. For most species switching to another plant is impossible — they lack enzymes to detoxify it. This drives strict specialization.",{"q":194,"a":195},"How do you plant a garden for butterflies?","Plant nettle (for small tortoiseshell and peacock), carrot and parsley (for swallowtail), cabbage (for large white), thistle (for painted lady), clover and alfalfa (for many blues and sulphurs).","Photorealistic macro photo, Papilio machaon caterpillar on dill plant — vivid green and black striped caterpillar feeding on Apiaceae host plant, natural garden setting, sharp detail, 16:9",{},true,null,"glossary","\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie","01.05.2026",1,[205,208,211,214],{"label":206,"path":207},"Caterpillar","\u002Fslovar\u002Fgusenica",{"label":209,"path":210},"Biotope","\u002Fslovar\u002Fbiotop",{"label":212,"path":213},"Oviposition","\u002Fslovar\u002Fovipozitsiya",{"label":215,"path":216},"What butterflies eat","\u002Fzhizn-babochek\u002Fchem-pitayutsya-babochki",{"title":218,"description":219},"Butterfly caterpillar host plants — table by species","Butterfly host plants: caterpillar–plant table. Small tortoiseshell, swallowtail, large white, brimstone, peacock — what caterpillars feed on.",{"loc":201},"slovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie","pBvOGs8JFppcLPre_o98-fT7sTsTzqjOmiAKKPwrmW0",[],[],[226,231,236,242,245,248,253,258,263,268,273,278,284,289,290,295,300,305,310,315,320,325,330,333,338,343,348,353,358,363,368,374,380,386,391,396,402],{"title":227,"description":228,"path":229,"coverImage":230,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Antenna","Butterfly antennae are paired sensory organs on the head, used to detect odors, pheromones, and vibrations. Their shape is a key identification trait.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fantenna","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fantenna.png",{"title":232,"description":233,"path":234,"coverImage":235,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Aposematism","Aposematism is warning coloration in toxic or unpalatable butterflies. Bright colors signal danger to predators and protect the species from being eaten.","\u002Fslovar\u002Faposematizm","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Faposematizm.png",{"title":237,"description":238,"path":239,"coverImage":240,"publishedAt":241,"order":199},"Batesian Mimicry","Batesian mimicry is when a harmless species evolves to resemble a toxic or dangerous one, borrowing its predator-deterrent reputation without the actual defense.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fbatezovskaya-mimikriya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fbatezovskaya-mimikriya.png","25.07.2026",{"title":209,"description":243,"path":210,"coverImage":244,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"A biotope is a uniform habitat patch with specific conditions, home to a characteristic community. Each butterfly species prefers its own biotope.","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fbiotop.png",{"title":206,"description":246,"path":207,"coverImage":247,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"The caterpillar is the larval stage of a butterfly, whose main task is to eat and grow — accumulating about 99% of the energy needed for transformation.","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fgusenica.jpg",{"title":249,"description":250,"path":251,"coverImage":252,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Chitin","Chitin is the main structural polymer of insect integument. The hard external skeleton of butterflies, wing scales, and caterpillar armor are made of chitin.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fkhitin","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fkhitin.jpg",{"title":254,"description":255,"path":256,"coverImage":257,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Chrysalis","A chrysalis is a butterfly pupa with a hard chitinous case, often with a golden or silvery sheen. Inside, the organism is completely rebuilt.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fkhrizalida","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fkhrizalida.jpg",{"title":259,"description":260,"path":261,"coverImage":262,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Diapause","Diapause is a state of physiological rest in insects that allows survival of an unfavorable season. In butterflies, it can occur at any developmental stage.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fdiapauza","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fdiapauza.png",{"title":264,"description":265,"path":266,"coverImage":267,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Dimorphism","Dimorphism is the existence of two distinct forms within one species. In butterflies, males and females of the same species can differ sharply in coloration.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fdimorfizm","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fdimorfizm.jpg",{"title":269,"description":270,"path":271,"coverImage":272,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Eclosion","Eclosion is the emergence of an adult butterfly from the pupa. One of the most vulnerable and striking moments in the life cycle of lepidopterans.","\u002Fslovar\u002Feklozia","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Feklozia.jpg",{"title":274,"description":275,"path":276,"coverImage":277,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Endemic","An endemic is a species that lives only in a specific geographic region and nowhere else. Islands and mountains are the main centers of butterfly endemism.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fendemik","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fendemik.jpg",{"title":279,"description":280,"path":281,"coverImage":282,"publishedAt":283,"order":199},"Eyespots","Eyespots are circular wing markings that mimic a vertebrate eye, used by butterflies either to startle predators or to redirect attacks away from vital body parts.","\u002Fslovar\u002Flozhnye-glazki","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Flozhnye-glazki.png","13.08.2026",{"title":285,"description":286,"path":287,"coverImage":288,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Holometabolism","Holometabolism is a type of insect development with complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → imago. All butterflies develop by this type.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fgolometaboliya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fgolometaboliya.jpg",{"title":5,"description":184,"path":201,"coverImage":183,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},{"title":291,"description":292,"path":293,"coverImage":294,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Imago","Imago is the adult, sexually mature stage of an insect with fully formed wings. The final phase of complete metamorphosis.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fimago","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fimago.jpg",{"title":296,"description":297,"path":298,"coverImage":299,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Lepidoptera","Lepidoptera is the order of scale-winged insects, including butterflies and moths. The name means “scale-winged”: wings are covered with microscopic scales.","\u002Fslovar\u002Flepidoptera","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Flepidoptera.jpg",{"title":301,"description":302,"path":303,"coverImage":304,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Melanism","Melanism is excess accumulation of dark pigment melanin, causing darkened coloration. Industrial melanism in the peppered moth is a classic evolution example.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fmelanizm","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fmelanizm.jpg",{"title":306,"description":307,"path":308,"coverImage":309,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Metamorphosis","Metamorphosis is complete transformation of an insect passing through four developmental stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult (imago).","\u002Fslovar\u002Fmetamorfoz","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fmetamorfoz.jpg",{"title":311,"description":312,"path":313,"coverImage":314,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Migration","Butterfly migration is seasonal movement over long distances. The record holder is the monarch, at up to 4,500 km; red admirals and painted ladies also migrate.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fmigraciya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fmigraciya.jpg",{"title":316,"description":317,"path":318,"coverImage":319,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Mimicry","Mimicry in butterflies is resemblance to other species or objects for protection from predators. Batesian and Müllerian mimicry, with examples.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fmimikriya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fmimikriya.jpg",{"title":321,"description":322,"path":323,"coverImage":324,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Monophage","A monophage is a species whose caterpillars feed on only one species or genus of plant. Monophagy makes a butterfly vulnerable if that plant disappears.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fmonofag","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fmonofag.jpg",{"title":326,"description":327,"path":328,"coverImage":329,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Nectar","Nectar is the sweet secretion of flowers and the main energy source for adult butterflies, which drink it through the proboscis and carry pollen too.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fnektar","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fnektar.jpg",{"title":212,"description":331,"path":213,"coverImage":332,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Oviposition is egg-laying by a female butterfly, who carefully chooses a host plant, tapping leaves with her legs, and lays eggs on the underside.","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fovipozitsiya.jpg",{"title":334,"description":335,"path":336,"coverImage":337,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Pheromones","Butterfly pheromones are chemical signals for attracting mates, marking territory, and communication. Males and females release different pheromones.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fferomon","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fferomon.jpg",{"title":339,"description":340,"path":341,"coverImage":342,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Pollination","Pollination is transfer of pollen from anther to stigma. Butterflies are important pollinators: they move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fopylenie","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fopylenie.jpg",{"title":344,"description":345,"path":346,"coverImage":347,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Polyphagy","Polyphagy is the ability to feed on a wide range of plants. Polyphagous caterpillars are less vulnerable when one host plant species is lost than monophages.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fpolifagiya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fpolifagiya.jpg",{"title":349,"description":350,"path":351,"coverImage":352,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Proboscis","The proboscis is the mouthpart of an adult butterfly, shaped as a flexible tube for sucking nectar and other liquids. At rest it is coiled in a spiral.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fkhobotok","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fkhobotok.jpg",{"title":354,"description":355,"path":356,"coverImage":357,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Puddling","Puddling in butterflies is behavior where insects gather on damp soil, puddles, or droppings to obtain mineral salts and amino acids.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fpudling","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fpudling.jpg",{"title":359,"description":360,"path":361,"coverImage":362,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Pupa","The pupa is the third stage of complete metamorphosis, when the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly — outwardly still, but rebuilding within.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fkukolka","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fkukolka.jpg",{"title":364,"description":365,"path":366,"coverImage":367,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Range","Range is the geographic area within which a given butterfly species lives. Ranges may be continuous, fragmented, expanding, or shrinking.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fareal","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fareal.png",{"title":369,"description":370,"path":371,"coverImage":372,"publishedAt":373,"order":199},"Reintroduction","Reintroduction is the deliberate release of captive-bred or translocated individuals into a habitat where a species has gone locally extinct, aiming to re-establish a self-sustaining wild population.","\u002Fslovar\u002Freintroduktsiya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Freintroduktsiya.png","22.07.2026",{"title":375,"description":376,"path":377,"coverImage":378,"publishedAt":379,"order":199},"Relict Species","A relict species is a survivor of a once-widespread group whose range has contracted to isolated pockets — often mountaintops or glacial refuges — left over after past climate change.","\u002Fslovar\u002Freliktovyi-vid","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Freliktovyi-vid.png","01.08.2026",{"title":381,"description":382,"path":383,"coverImage":384,"publishedAt":385,"order":199},"Stenotopic Species","A stenotopic species tolerates only a narrow range of habitat conditions, unlike a eurytopic generalist that thrives across many different environments.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fstenotopnyi-vid","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fstenotopnyi-vid.png","07.08.2026",{"title":387,"description":388,"path":389,"coverImage":390,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Taxonomy","Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms. Butterflies belong to order Lepidoptera; taxonomy explains why the tortoiseshell is a nymphalid, not a blue.","\u002Fslovar\u002Ftaksonomiya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Ftaksonomiya.jpg",{"title":392,"description":393,"path":394,"coverImage":395,"publishedAt":202,"order":199},"Thermoregulation","Thermoregulation in butterflies is maintaining working body temperature. Unable to generate heat, they warm up in sun, wings spread like solar panels.","\u002Fslovar\u002Ftermoregulyatsiya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Ftermoregulyatsiya.jpg",{"title":397,"description":398,"path":399,"coverImage":400,"publishedAt":401,"order":199},"Toxin Sequestration","Toxin sequestration is when a caterpillar stores plant-derived toxins from its host plant unchanged in its own tissues, turning the plant's chemical defense into its own.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fsekvestraciya-toksinov","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fsekvestraciya-toksinov.png","19.08.2026",{"title":403,"description":404,"path":405,"coverImage":406,"publishedAt":407,"order":199},"Wing Venation","Wing venation is the pattern of hollow, rigid veins that forms a butterfly wing's supporting framework — its precise layout is a key character for identification and classification.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fzhilkovanie-kryla","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fzhilkovanie-kryla.png","27.07.2026",[409,410,411,412],{"label":206,"path":207,"coverImage":247,"latinName":199},{"label":209,"path":210,"coverImage":244,"latinName":199},{"label":212,"path":213,"coverImage":332,"latinName":199},{"label":215,"path":216,"coverImage":413,"latinName":199},"\u002Fimages\u002Fzhizn-babochek\u002Fchem-pitayutsya-babochki.jpg",1787125907679]