[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":391},["ShallowReactive",2],{"glossary_en:\u002Fslovar\u002Fmonofag":3,"alt-locale:glossary_en:\u002Fslovar\u002Fmonofag":179,"section-listing:disabled":202,"related-covers:en:":203,"section-listing:glossary_en:\u002Fslovar":204,"related-covers:en:\u002Fslovar\u002Fpolifagiya|\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie|\u002Fslovar\u002Fareal":387},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"coverImage":173,"description":174,"extension":175,"faq":176,"imagePrompt":177,"meta":178,"navigation":179,"order":176,"pageType":163,"path":180,"publishedAt":181,"readingMinutes":182,"relatedLinks":183,"seo":196,"sitemap":199,"stem":200,"tags":176,"updatedAt":176,"__hash__":201},"glossary_en\u002Fslovar\u002Fmonofag.md","Monophage",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":165},"minimark",[9,14,38,46,50,64,77,90,99,103,110,126,130,133,154,157],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"what-is-a-monophage","What is a monophage",[15,16,17,18,22,23,27,28,31,32,37],"p",{},"A ",[19,20,21],"strong",{},"monophage"," (from Greek ",[24,25,26],"em",{},"monos"," — one, ",[24,29,30],{},"phagos"," — eater) is a species whose ",[33,34,36],"a",{"href":35},"\u002Fen\u002Fslovar\u002Fgusenica","caterpillars"," feed on only one plant species or one genus. This is the extreme of food specialization.",[15,39,40,41,45],{},"Monophagy is an evolutionary strategy opposite to ",[33,42,44],{"href":43},"\u002Fen\u002Fslovar\u002Fpolifagiya","polyphagy",".",[10,47,49],{"id":48},"examples-of-monophages","Examples of monophages",[15,51,52,55,56,59,60,63],{},[19,53,54],{},"Apollo"," (",[24,57,58],{},"Parnassius apollo",") is a classic monophage: the caterpillar feeds only on stonecrop (",[24,61,62],{},"Sedum","). This explains the species' tie to rocky slopes with stonecrop and its decline when meadows are overgrown with tall vegetation.",[15,65,66,55,69,72,73,76],{},[19,67,68],{},"Silkworm",[24,70,71],{},"Bombyx mori",") is a strict monophage on mulberry leaves (",[24,74,75],{},"Morus","). Millennia of selection further strengthened this dependence: domesticated caterpillars can hardly feed on other plants.",[15,78,79,55,82,85,86,89],{},[19,80,81],{},"Alcon blue",[24,83,84],{},"Phengaris alcon",") is a monophage on gentian (",[24,87,88],{},"Gentiana","). Populations are strictly tied to sites where this plant grows.",[15,91,92,55,95,98],{},[19,93,94],{},"Large white",[24,96,97],{},"Pieris brassicae",") is a strict oligophage on brassicaceous plants, often called a monophage informally.",[10,100,102],{"id":101},"causes-of-monophagy","Causes of monophagy",[15,104,105,106,109],{},"Monophagy arises from ",[19,107,108],{},"coevolution"," of butterfly and plant:",[111,112,113,117,120,123],"ol",{},[114,115,116],"li",{},"The plant produces defensive substances (alkaloids, glycosides)",[114,118,119],{},"The caterpillar adapts enzyme systems to neutralize those substances",[114,121,122],{},"Over time specialized enzymes work better than general ones",[114,124,125],{},"The caterpillar gains the ability to find “its” plant by smell",[10,127,129],{"id":128},"monophagy-and-conservation","Monophagy and conservation",[15,131,132],{},"Monophages are especially vulnerable to environmental change:",[134,135,136,142,148],"ul",{},[114,137,138,141],{},[19,139,140],{},"Loss of host plant"," → direct loss of the butterfly",[114,143,144,147],{},[19,145,146],{},"Butterfly range"," is limited by the plant's range",[114,149,150,153],{},[19,151,152],{},"Habitat fragmentation"," splits populations",[15,155,156],{},"Many rare and protected butterflies are monophages. Restoring their populations requires above all preserving or restoring the host plant.",[15,158,159,160,164],{},"The full glossary is in the ",[33,161,163],{"href":162},"\u002Fen\u002Fslovar","glossary"," section.",{"title":166,"searchDepth":167,"depth":167,"links":168},"",2,[169,170,171,172],{"id":12,"depth":167,"text":13},{"id":48,"depth":167,"text":49},{"id":101,"depth":167,"text":102},{"id":128,"depth":167,"text":129},"\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fmonofag.jpg","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.","md",null,"Photorealistic macro photo, Parnassius apollo caterpillar on Sedum stonecrop plant, its only host plant, rocky alpine background, sharp focus, 16:9",{},true,"\u002Fslovar\u002Fmonofag","01.05.2026",1,[184,188,192],{"label":185,"path":186,"description":187},"Polyphagy","\u002Fslovar\u002Fpolifagiya","Feeding on a wide range of plants",{"label":189,"path":190,"description":191},"Host plant","\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie","Host plants of caterpillars",{"label":193,"path":194,"description":195},"Range","\u002Fslovar\u002Fareal","How a monophage's range is tied to the plant's range",{"title":197,"description":198},"Monophage — butterflies feeding on one plant","Monophage in butterflies: what it is, examples of narrow caterpillar specialization, link to species conservation and vulnerability when host plants are lost.",{"loc":180},"slovar\u002Fmonofag","YnZAUcp2IBDJjdFgtoziNyrsrJNseORQOdITdDcyGxw",[],[],[205,210,215,221,226,231,236,241,246,251,256,261,267,272,275,280,285,290,295,300,305,306,311,316,321,326,329,334,339,344,347,353,359,365,370,375,381],{"title":206,"description":207,"path":208,"coverImage":209,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":211,"description":212,"path":213,"coverImage":214,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":216,"description":217,"path":218,"coverImage":219,"publishedAt":220,"order":176},"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":222,"description":223,"path":224,"coverImage":225,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"Biotope","A biotope is a uniform habitat patch with specific conditions, home to a characteristic community. Each butterfly species prefers its own biotope.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fbiotop","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fbiotop.png",{"title":227,"description":228,"path":229,"coverImage":230,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"Caterpillar","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.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fgusenica","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fgusenica.jpg",{"title":232,"description":233,"path":234,"coverImage":235,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":237,"description":238,"path":239,"coverImage":240,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":242,"description":243,"path":244,"coverImage":245,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":247,"description":248,"path":249,"coverImage":250,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":252,"description":253,"path":254,"coverImage":255,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":257,"description":258,"path":259,"coverImage":260,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":262,"description":263,"path":264,"coverImage":265,"publishedAt":266,"order":176},"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":268,"description":269,"path":270,"coverImage":271,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":189,"description":273,"path":190,"coverImage":274,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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.","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fkormovoe-rastenie.jpg",{"title":276,"description":277,"path":278,"coverImage":279,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":281,"description":282,"path":283,"coverImage":284,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":286,"description":287,"path":288,"coverImage":289,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":291,"description":292,"path":293,"coverImage":294,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":296,"description":297,"path":298,"coverImage":299,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":301,"description":302,"path":303,"coverImage":304,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":5,"description":174,"path":180,"coverImage":173,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},{"title":307,"description":308,"path":309,"coverImage":310,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":312,"description":313,"path":314,"coverImage":315,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"Oviposition","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.","\u002Fslovar\u002Fovipozitsiya","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fovipozitsiya.jpg",{"title":317,"description":318,"path":319,"coverImage":320,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":322,"description":323,"path":324,"coverImage":325,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":185,"description":327,"path":186,"coverImage":328,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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.","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fpolifagiya.jpg",{"title":330,"description":331,"path":332,"coverImage":333,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":335,"description":336,"path":337,"coverImage":338,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":340,"description":341,"path":342,"coverImage":343,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":193,"description":345,"path":194,"coverImage":346,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"Range is the geographic area within which a given butterfly species lives. Ranges may be continuous, fragmented, expanding, or shrinking.","\u002Fimages\u002Fslovar\u002Fareal.png",{"title":348,"description":349,"path":350,"coverImage":351,"publishedAt":352,"order":176},"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":354,"description":355,"path":356,"coverImage":357,"publishedAt":358,"order":176},"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":360,"description":361,"path":362,"coverImage":363,"publishedAt":364,"order":176},"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":366,"description":367,"path":368,"coverImage":369,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":371,"description":372,"path":373,"coverImage":374,"publishedAt":181,"order":176},"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":376,"description":377,"path":378,"coverImage":379,"publishedAt":380,"order":176},"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":382,"description":383,"path":384,"coverImage":385,"publishedAt":386,"order":176},"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",[388,389,390],{"label":185,"path":186,"description":187,"coverImage":328,"latinName":176},{"label":189,"path":190,"description":191,"coverImage":274,"latinName":176},{"label":193,"path":194,"description":195,"coverImage":346,"latinName":176},1787125907843]