[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":786},["ShallowReactive",2],{"species_en:\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmertvaya-golova":3,"alt-locale:species_en:\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmertvaya-golova":338,"section-listing:species_en:\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy":372,"section-listing:disabled":748,"related-covers:en:\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbraznik-oleandrovy|\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbolshoj-pavlinij-glaz":749,"related-covers:en:\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fnochanye-babochki-i-motylki|\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbraznik-oleandrovy|\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse|\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbolshoj-pavlinij-glaz":754,"section-listing:species_en:\u002Fvidy-babochek":761},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"conservationStatus":313,"coverImage":314,"description":315,"extension":316,"family":317,"familySlug":318,"faq":319,"hostPlants":329,"imagePrompt":336,"latinName":26,"meta":337,"navigation":338,"order":318,"pageType":339,"path":340,"publishedAt":341,"readingMinutes":342,"relatedLinks":343,"relatedSpecies":356,"season":359,"seo":360,"sitemap":363,"stem":364,"tags":365,"updatedAt":318,"wingspanMm":370,"__hash__":371},"species_en\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmertvaya-golova.md","Death's-head Hawkmoth",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":290},"minimark",[9,14,28,35,39,44,51,58,61,65,72,75,79,99,110,117,121,125,132,139,143,146,149,153,157,168,175,179,186,190,197,201,208,219,223,233,236,240],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"the-moth-with-a-skull-on-its-chest","The moth with a skull on its chest",[15,16,17,18,22,23,27],"p",{},"Among European Lepidoptera, few species provoke as strong a reaction as the ",[19,20,21],"strong",{},"death's-head hawkmoth"," (",[24,25,26],"em",{},"Acherontia atropos","). The pale marking on the dark thorax — shaped unmistakably like a human skull — has made it a symbol of superstition, horror fiction, and natural-history fascination for centuries. Add a wingspan of up to 13 cm, powerful hovering flight, and an ability to squeak when handled, and the species occupies a unique place in the public imagination.",[15,29,30,31,34],{},"Despite its ominous reputation, ",[24,32,33],{},"A. atropos"," is a harmless insect. It does not sting, does not bite humans, and plays a normal ecological role as a pollinator and prey item. Its notoriety is almost entirely visual and cultural.",[10,36,38],{"id":37},"appearance-and-identification","Appearance and identification",[40,41,43],"h3",{"id":42},"adult","Adult",[15,45,46,47,50],{},"Wingspan ",[19,48,49],{},"90–130 mm"," — among the largest moths regularly seen in Europe. Forewings are yellow-brown to dark brown with wavy transverse lines and a pale median band. Hindwings are yellow-orange with a broad black border and a blue eyespot at the anal angle.",[15,52,53,54,57],{},"The ",[19,55,56],{},"skull marking"," sits on the dorsal thorax between the wing bases: a pale patch with dark “eye sockets” and “nasal cavity” on a black or dark brown background. The pattern is visible when the moth rests with wings folded in the typical hawkmoth posture — roof-like over the body.",[15,59,60],{},"Antennae are club-tipped in females and slightly thicker in males. The body is stout and furry, yellow-brown below.",[40,62,64],{"id":63},"caterpillar","Caterpillar",[15,66,67,68,71],{},"One of the largest caterpillars in Europe — up to ",[19,69,70],{},"120 mm"," at the final instar. Colour varies from yellow-green to brown with oblique violet or blue-white lateral stripes and a dark hooked horn on the eighth abdominal segment. A row of small white dots runs along each side.",[15,73,74],{},"The larva feeds openly on host-plant leaves and is often found on potato, nightshade, lilac, and privet in gardens and farmland.",[10,76,78],{"id":77},"distribution-and-migration","Distribution and migration",[15,80,81,83,84,87,88,87,91,94,95,98],{},[24,82,26],{}," is native to ",[19,85,86],{},"Africa",", the ",[19,89,90],{},"Mediterranean",[19,92,93],{},"Middle East",", and warm parts of ",[19,96,97],{},"Asia",". It is resident and breeds year-round in climates without frost.",[15,100,101,102,105,106,109],{},"Each summer, adults migrate north into ",[19,103,104],{},"central and northern Europe"," and ",[19,107,108],{},"western Russia",". Migration intensity depends on weather: warm, dry summers with southerly winds produce the largest influxes. In Russia, records extend from the North Caucasus and Krasnodar Krai northward; exceptional individuals reach the Baltic region and beyond.",[15,111,112,113,116],{},"The species ",[19,114,115],{},"does not overwinter"," in temperate latitudes. All northern populations die with the first frosts; the next year's moths arrive again from the south.",[10,118,120],{"id":119},"lifecycle","Lifecycle",[40,122,124],{"id":123},"eggs-and-larvae","Eggs and larvae",[15,126,127,128,131],{},"Females lay ",[19,129,130],{},"single green eggs"," on the underside of host-plant leaves, preferring Solanaceae (potato, nightshade) but also using Oleaceae (lilac, privet, ash). In the Mediterranean, development is continuous; in migrant populations, eggs laid in June–July produce caterpillars that pupate in late summer.",[15,133,134,135,138],{},"The caterpillar passes through ",[19,136,137],{},"five instars"," over three to four weeks. Before pupation it turns brown, wanders away from the food plant, and burrows into loose soil to form a smooth, dark brown pupa.",[40,140,142],{"id":141},"pupa-and-adult","Pupa and adult",[15,144,145],{},"The pupal stage lasts two to three weeks in summer warmth, or several months if overwintering in the south. Adults emerge at night, expand the wings, and fly strongly — often attracted to light.",[15,147,148],{},"In resident southern populations, two or more generations per year are possible. In migrant zones, usually one generation from summer arrivals.",[10,150,152],{"id":151},"behaviour","Behaviour",[40,154,156],{"id":155},"flight-and-feeding","Flight and feeding",[15,158,159,160,163,164,167],{},"The death's-head hawkmoth is a ",[19,161,162],{},"powerful, fast flier"," — among the fastest Lepidoptera, capable of sustained flight over long distances during migration. Like other sphingids, it can ",[19,165,166],{},"hover"," in front of flowers while extending its long proboscis to drink nectar.",[15,169,170,171,174],{},"Unusually for a hawkmoth, adults also ",[19,172,173],{},"enter beehives"," to steal honey. They are covered in a chemical that reduces bee aggression, allowing them to feed inside the colony. This behaviour — documented since antiquity — contributed to the species' sinister reputation among beekeepers.",[40,176,178],{"id":177},"the-squeak","The squeak",[15,180,181,182,185],{},"When alarmed, the moth ",[19,183,184],{},"forces air through its proboscis",", producing a sharp squeak or click. The sound is audible to humans at close range and may deter birds or mammals. Caterpillars produce a similar defensive click with their mandibles.",[40,187,189],{"id":188},"attraction-to-light","Attraction to light",[15,191,192,193,196],{},"Migrants are strongly ",[19,194,195],{},"attracted to artificial light"," — street lamps, windows, and UV traps. Many records from northern latitudes come from moths found at lighted buildings in late summer evenings.",[10,198,200],{"id":199},"cultural-history","Cultural history",[15,202,203,204,207],{},"The death's-head hawkmoth appears in European folklore as an ",[19,205,206],{},"omen of death or misfortune"," — partly because of the skull marking, partly because of its habit of appearing suddenly at night and entering homes.",[15,209,210,211,214,215,218],{},"It gained modern fame through ",[19,212,213],{},"popular culture",": the species appears on the poster of the film ",[24,216,217],{},"The Silence of the Lambs"," (though the prop moth was altered for dramatic effect), and it is referenced in works by Thomas Hardy, Edgar Allan Poe, and others. Entomologists often note that the moth's actual biology — a harmless migrant pollinator — is far less sinister than its legend.",[10,220,222],{"id":221},"conservation","Conservation",[15,224,225,226,228,229,232],{},"Globally, ",[24,227,26],{}," is ",[19,230,231],{},"Least Concern"," (IUCN). It remains widespread and common in its resident range. In northern Europe it is not a breeding species and requires no local conservation measures.",[15,234,235],{},"Garden pesticides and loss of larval host plants (particularly potato and nightshade in small holdings) may reduce local caterpillar numbers in migrant zones, but the species' mobility and large southern source populations make it resilient.",[10,237,239],{"id":238},"interesting-facts","Interesting facts",[241,242,243,266,273,276,283],"ul",{},[244,245,246,247,250,251,254,255,258,259,262,263,265],"li",{},"Three species exist in the genus ",[24,248,249],{},"Acherontia",": ",[24,252,253],{},"atropos"," (Europe, Africa, Middle East), ",[24,256,257],{},"styx"," (Asia), and ",[24,260,261],{},"lachesis"," (Southeast Asia). Only ",[24,264,253],{}," regularly reaches Europe and Russia",[244,267,268,269,272],{},"The skull pattern is ",[19,270,271],{},"not identical in every individual"," — the pale area varies in shape and intensity, but the overall effect is consistently skull-like",[244,274,275],{},"In the 19th century, beekeepers in southern Europe sometimes placed traps near hives specifically to catch death's-head hawkmoths before they entered colonies",[244,277,278,279,282],{},"The caterpillar's horn is ",[19,280,281],{},"not venomous"," — unlike some saturniid caterpillars, sphingid horns are harmless sensory structures",[244,284,285,286,289],{},"Migrants can cover ",[19,287,288],{},"hundreds of kilometres"," in a few nights; radar studies in Europe have detected hawkmoth movements at altitude, similar to noctuid migration",{"title":291,"searchDepth":292,"depth":292,"links":293},"",2,[294,295,300,301,305,310,311,312],{"id":12,"depth":292,"text":13},{"id":37,"depth":292,"text":38,"children":296},[297,299],{"id":42,"depth":298,"text":43},3,{"id":63,"depth":298,"text":64},{"id":77,"depth":292,"text":78},{"id":119,"depth":292,"text":120,"children":302},[303,304],{"id":123,"depth":298,"text":124},{"id":141,"depth":298,"text":142},{"id":151,"depth":292,"text":152,"children":306},[307,308,309],{"id":155,"depth":298,"text":156},{"id":177,"depth":298,"text":178},{"id":188,"depth":298,"text":189},{"id":199,"depth":292,"text":200},{"id":221,"depth":292,"text":222},{"id":238,"depth":292,"text":239},"LC","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmertvaya-golova.png","The death's-head hawkmoth is a dramatic sphingid with a skull-like thorax pattern, powerful flight, and a squeak when disturbed — a regular migrant to Europe.","md","Sphingidae",null,[320,323,326],{"q":321,"a":322},"Why is it called the death's-head hawkmoth?","The name comes from the pale, skull-shaped marking on the dorsal side of the thorax — a pattern of light patches on dark cuticle that resembles a human skull when viewed from above. The Latin genus Acherontia refers to Acheron, one of the rivers of the Greek underworld. The species has been associated with omens and death in European folklore for centuries.",{"q":324,"a":325},"Can the death's-head hawkmoth really squeak?","Yes. When handled or threatened, adults can produce a loud squeaking or clicking sound by forcing air through a modified proboscis — a behaviour unique among European Lepidoptera. The sound may startle predators or help the moth defend itself when raiding beehives for honey. Caterpillars can also click their mandibles when disturbed.",{"q":327,"a":328},"Does the death's-head hawkmoth live in Russia?","It does not breed permanently in most of Russia. Acherontia atropos is a warm-climate species that migrates north each summer from North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Adults regularly reach southern Russia, the Caucasus, and occasionally the middle latitudes — sometimes as far as Leningrad Oblast and the Urals in warm years. Larvae are found only where adults have laid eggs; the species cannot overwinter in Russia.",[330,331,332,333,334,335],"Potato (Solanum tuberosum)","Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna)","Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)","Privet (Ligustrum spp.)","Ash (Fraxinus spp.)","Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)","Photorealistic macro photography, Acherontia atropos death's-head hawkmoth with wings spread showing yellow-brown forewings and skull-like pattern on dark thorax, perched on weathered wood at night, dramatic side lighting, 16:9",{},true,"species","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmertvaya-golova","12.06.2026",1,[344,347,350,353],{"label":345,"path":346},"Nocturnal butterflies and moths","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fnochanye-babochki-i-motylki",{"label":348,"path":349},"Oleander Hawkmoth","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbraznik-oleandrovy",{"label":351,"path":352},"Caterpillar identification","\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse",{"label":354,"path":355},"Great Peacock Moth","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbolshoj-pavlinij-glaz",[357,358],{"label":348,"path":349},{"label":354,"path":355},"June — October (migrant); year-round in the south",{"title":361,"description":362},"Death's-head Hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos) — Skull Pattern, Migration, Behaviour","Death's-head hawkmoth: identification, skull marking, squeaking behaviour, migration to Russia, lifecycle, and cultural history of Europe's most famous hawkmoth.",{"loc":340},"vidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmertvaya-golova",[366,367,368,369],"hawkmoths","nocturnal moths","migratory species","sphingidae","90-130","jharzsK135dq5t9yDIpqfHRlaLhyLYU3WqXt9hGvs84",[373,379,384,389,395,401,406,412,417,423,429,434,439,444,450,455,460,461,466,471,476,481,486,490,495,500,505,510,515,520,525,530,535,540,545,550,556,561,567,572,577,582,587,591,596,601,606,611,616,622,628,634,639,645,650,655,660,665,670,675,680,685,690,696,701,706,711,716,721,726,731,737,742],{"title":374,"description":375,"path":376,"coverImage":377,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Amanda's Blue","Amanda's blue is a large blue with vivid blue wings. Males are intense blue without orange lunules, unlike most related species.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-amanda","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-amanda.jpg","01.05.2026",{"title":380,"description":381,"path":382,"coverImage":383,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Apollo","The Apollo is a large mountain butterfly with semi-transparent white wings and red \"eyespots.\" A protected species listed in the Red Data Book of Russia.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fapollo","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fapollo.jpg",{"title":385,"description":386,"path":387,"coverImage":388,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Arran Brown","The Arran brown is a dark brown butterfly of forest edges with characteristic eyespots. A typical member of the genus *Erebia*.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fchernushka","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fchernushka.jpg",{"title":390,"description":391,"path":392,"coverImage":393,"publishedAt":394,"order":318},"Bhutan Glory","The Bhutan Glory is a spectacular Himalayan swallowtail with iridescent tails, found in cool forests of Nepal, Bhutan, and northeast India.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbutanitis-lidderdeylya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbutanitis-lidderdeylya.png","25.07.2026",{"title":396,"description":397,"path":398,"coverImage":399,"publishedAt":400,"order":318},"Black Hairstreak","The Black Hairstreak is one of Europe's most localised butterflies, tied to blackthorn in woodland edges. Its short June–July season makes it easy to miss.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fhvostanka-slivovaya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fhvostanka-slivovaya.png","23.06.2026",{"title":402,"description":403,"path":404,"coverImage":405,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Black-veined White","The black-veined white is a large white butterfly with dark wing veins, whose caterpillars overwinter in colonies and strip fruit-tree leaves in spring.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fboyaryshnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fboyaryshnitsa.jpg",{"title":407,"description":408,"path":409,"coverImage":410,"publishedAt":411,"order":318},"Blue Morpho","The blue morpho is a tropical butterfly with metallic-blue wings up to 130 mm across. Its iridescent sheen comes from nanostructure, not pigment.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmorfo-sinij","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmorfo-sinij.jpg","24.06.2026",{"title":413,"description":414,"path":415,"coverImage":416,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Brimstone","The brimstone is the first butterfly of spring: males bright yellow, females greenish white. It lives longer than most butterflies — up to 13 months.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Flimonnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Flimonnitsa.jpg",{"title":418,"description":419,"path":420,"coverImage":421,"publishedAt":422,"order":318},"Brown Hairstreak","The Brown Hairstreak is one of Europe's most secretive butterflies, living high in tree canopies. Its eggs on blackthorn twigs reveal it in winter.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzefir-berezovyj","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzefir-berezovyj.png","25.06.2026",{"title":424,"description":425,"path":426,"coverImage":427,"publishedAt":428,"order":318},"Cardinal","The cardinal (Argynnis pandora) is the largest Mediterranean fritillary — its hindwing underside suffused with crimson, giving the species its English name.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-pandora","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-pandora.png","12.08.2026",{"title":430,"description":431,"path":432,"coverImage":433,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Cleopatra","Cleopatra is a large butterfly of southern Russia and the Mediterranean. Males have a bright orange patch on the forewing — the most vivid of the brimstones.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzheltushka-kleopatra","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzheltushka-kleopatra.jpg",{"title":435,"description":436,"path":437,"coverImage":438,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Clouded Apollo","The clouded Apollo is a rare mountain butterfly with white semi-transparent wings and black spots. Listed in Red Data Books of many regions of Russia.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmnemozina","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmnemozina.jpg",{"title":440,"description":441,"path":442,"coverImage":443,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Comma","The comma is a butterfly with uneven, 'ragged' wing margins. On the underside of the hindwings is a white mark shaped like a comma — its second common name.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fugolnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fugolnitsa.jpg",{"title":445,"description":446,"path":447,"coverImage":448,"publishedAt":449,"order":318},"Common Birdwing","The Common Birdwing is one of the most widespread true birdwings, giant iridescent swallowtails found from South Asia to the western Pacific.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpticekrylka-elena","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpticekrylka-elena.png","20.07.2026",{"title":451,"description":452,"path":453,"coverImage":454,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Common Blue","The common blue is one of the most widespread blues of the temperate zone and Eurasia. Males are intensely blue, females brown. It occurs on any meadow with clover.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-ikarus","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-ikarus.jpg",{"title":456,"description":457,"path":458,"coverImage":459,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Dark Green Fritillary","The dark green fritillary is a meadow butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The underside of the hindwings is dark green with silvery triangular spots.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-aglaya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-aglaya.jpg",{"title":5,"description":315,"path":340,"coverImage":314,"publishedAt":341,"order":318},{"title":462,"description":463,"path":464,"coverImage":465,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Dryad","The dryad is a large dark butterfly of the browns with bluish eyespots, living in floodplain forests and reed beds across Eurasia.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsatir-driad","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsatir-driad.jpg",{"title":467,"description":468,"path":469,"coverImage":470,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"False Heath Fritillary","The false heath fritillary is a small meadow butterfly with a checkered pattern. It inhabits damp meadows with valerian — the main caterpillar host plant.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fshashechnitsa-diktinna","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fshashechnitsa-diktinna.jpg",{"title":472,"description":473,"path":474,"coverImage":475,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Glanville Fritillary","The Glanville fritillary is a small butterfly with a checkered pattern of reddish and black patches — a classic subject of population ecology research.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fshashechnitsa-cinxia","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fshashechnitsa-cinxia.jpg",{"title":477,"description":478,"path":479,"coverImage":480,"publishedAt":411,"order":318},"Glasswing Butterfly","The glasswing butterfly Greta oto is a nymphalid with transparent wings lacking scales in the center — a master of camouflage in Central American forests.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsteklyannaya-babochka","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsteklyannaya-babochka.jpg",{"title":482,"description":483,"path":484,"coverImage":485,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Grayling","The grayling is a large brown of rocky and sandy places. A master of camouflage: on stone or bark it is almost invisible.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsatir-semele","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsatir-semele.jpg",{"title":354,"description":487,"path":355,"coverImage":488,"publishedAt":489,"order":318},"The great peacock moth is Europe's largest nocturnal moth — a saturniid with a wingspan up to 15 cm, striking eyespots, and antennae detecting females afar.","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbolshoj-pavlinij-glaz.png","29.05.2026",{"title":491,"description":492,"path":493,"coverImage":494,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Green Hairstreak","The green hairstreak is a small blue with bright emerald-green undersides. Widespread in Europe and Asia, it lives on edges and rough ground.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbronzovka","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbronzovka.jpg",{"title":496,"description":497,"path":498,"coverImage":499,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Green-underside Blue","The green-underside blue is a small spring blue. The underside of the hindwings is bright green with white-ringed spots, making it easy to identify.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-aleksis","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-aleksis.jpg",{"title":501,"description":502,"path":503,"coverImage":504,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Green-veined White","The green-veined white is a small white with characteristic green veins on the underside of the hindwings. The most common of the three \"garden whites.\"","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbryukvennitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbryukvennitsa.jpg",{"title":506,"description":507,"path":508,"coverImage":509,"publishedAt":411,"order":318},"Heliconius Melpomene","Heliconius melpomene is a tropical nymphalid with red-and-black wings, a classic example of Müllerian mimicry, inhabiting Central and South American forests.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgelikoniya-melpomena","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgelikoniya-melpomena.jpg",{"title":511,"description":512,"path":513,"coverImage":514,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Hercules Grayling","The Hercules grayling is a large mountain brown. It is close to the grayling but larger and lives in more rocky, mountainous landscapes.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsatir-gerkules","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsatir-gerkules.jpg",{"title":516,"description":517,"path":518,"coverImage":519,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"High Brown Fritillary","The high brown fritillary is a large meadow and woodland butterfly. The underside of the hindwings is green with silvery spots and reddish strokes.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-adippe","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-adippe.jpg",{"title":521,"description":522,"path":523,"coverImage":524,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Large Blue","The large blue is a big blue butterfly with an unusual life cycle: the caterpillar parasitizes colonies of red ants. A protected species.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-arion","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-arion.jpg",{"title":526,"description":527,"path":528,"coverImage":529,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Large Tortoiseshell","The large tortoiseshell is a nymphalid with tawny brown, variegated wings, resembling the small tortoiseshell but bigger, with different host plants.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmnogotsvetnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmnogotsvetnitsa.jpg",{"title":531,"description":532,"path":533,"coverImage":534,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Large White","The large white is the commonest white butterfly in gardens, whose caterpillars eat cabbage. Larger than the small white, with dark wing spots.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fkapustnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fkapustnitsa.jpg",{"title":536,"description":537,"path":538,"coverImage":539,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Lesser Purple Emperor","The lesser purple emperor is a close relative of the purple emperor. It is smaller, with a warmer reddish tint and a larger orange 'eyespot' on the hindwings.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperelivnitsa-iliya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperelivnitsa-iliya.jpg",{"title":541,"description":542,"path":543,"coverImage":544,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Marbled Fritillary","The marbled fritillary (*Brenthis ino*) is a small fritillary of wet meadows. The underside of the hindwings is mottled yellow-violet with pearly spots.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbrenthis-ino","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbrenthis-ino.jpg",{"title":546,"description":547,"path":548,"coverImage":549,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Marbled White","The marbled white is a large black-and-white butterfly. Its bold contrast makes it one of Europe's most recognizable species.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbarkhatnitsa-galatea","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbarkhatnitsa-galatea.jpg",{"title":551,"description":552,"path":553,"coverImage":554,"publishedAt":555,"order":318},"Meadow Brown","The meadow brown is the commonest butterfly in Britain and one of Europe's most abundant, with a distinctive forewing eyespot.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fvolovij-glaz","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fvolovij-glaz.png","21.06.2026",{"title":557,"description":558,"path":559,"coverImage":560,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Meleager's Blue","Meleager's blue is a large, handsome blue. Males are bright blue with a broad dark border; the underside of the wings has a characteristic white streak.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-dafnis","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fgolubyanka-dafnis.jpg",{"title":562,"description":563,"path":564,"coverImage":565,"publishedAt":566,"order":318},"Mocker Swallowtail","The Mocker Swallowtail is an African swallowtail famous for females with dozens of forms, each mimicking a different distasteful butterfly.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fparusnik-dardan","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fparusnik-dardan.png","23.07.2026",{"title":568,"description":569,"path":570,"coverImage":571,"publishedAt":411,"order":318},"Monarch","The monarch is the world's most famous migratory butterfly, covering up to 4,500 km per season, with orange wings marked by black veins and white spots.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmonarh","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmonarh.jpg",{"title":573,"description":574,"path":575,"coverImage":576,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Mourning Cloak","The mourning cloak is a large butterfly with dark chocolate wings bordered by a yellow band and blue spots — one of Europe's longest-lived butterflies.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Ftraurnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Ftraurnitsa.jpg",{"title":578,"description":579,"path":580,"coverImage":581,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Nickerl's Fritillary","Nickerl's fritillary is a small butterfly with the typical checkered nymphalid pattern, occurring on dry meadows with plantain in European Russia.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fshashechnitsa-aurelia","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fshashechnitsa-aurelia.jpg",{"title":583,"description":584,"path":585,"coverImage":586,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Old World Swallowtail","The Old World swallowtail is a large, recognizable swallowtail of the temperate zone: yellow wings, black pattern, and bright 'tails' on the hindwings.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmahon","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmahon.jpg",{"title":348,"description":588,"path":349,"coverImage":589,"publishedAt":590,"order":318},"The oleander hawkmoth is a tropical sphingid, apple-green with pink bands, hovering at dusk over oleander. A Mediterranean resident, rare vagrant to Europe.","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbraznik-oleandrovy.png","09.06.2026",{"title":592,"description":593,"path":594,"coverImage":595,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Orange Tip","The orange tip is an early-spring white with an orange patch on the male's forewing. One of the first pierids to appear after snow melt.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzoryanka","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzoryanka.jpg",{"title":597,"description":598,"path":599,"coverImage":600,"publishedAt":411,"order":318},"Owl Butterfly","The owl butterfly Caligo memnon is a crepuscular nymphalid with large 'owl eyes' on its wing undersides, wingspan to 150 mm, in Central and South America.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsovinnaya-babochka","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsovinnaya-babochka.jpg",{"title":602,"description":603,"path":604,"coverImage":605,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Painted Lady","The painted lady is one of the longest-distance migrants among butterflies. Each year it travels thousands of kilometres from Africa into Europe and temperate Eurasia across its range.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Frepeynitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Frepeynitsa.jpg",{"title":607,"description":608,"path":609,"coverImage":610,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Pale Clouded Yellow","The pale clouded yellow is a yellow or whitish pierid. Males are lemon yellow, females often white. It lives on meadows with clover.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzheltushka-lugovaya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzheltushka-lugovaya.jpg",{"title":612,"description":613,"path":614,"coverImage":615,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Peacock","The peacock is one of the most beautiful temperate-zone butterflies. Four large wing 'eyes' mimic a predator's gaze, protecting it from birds.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpavliniy-glaz","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpavliniy-glaz.jpg",{"title":617,"description":618,"path":619,"coverImage":620,"publishedAt":621,"order":318},"Pearl Heath","The pearl heath (Coenonympha arcania) is a small satyr butterfly of Central and Southern Europe, with a white postdiscal stripe and silver-ringed eyespots.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsennitsa-arkaniya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsennitsa-arkaniya.png","04.08.2026",{"title":623,"description":624,"path":625,"coverImage":626,"publishedAt":627,"order":318},"Peleides Blue Morpho","The Peleides blue morpho is one of the largest, brightest butterflies alive — its iridescent blue wings, up to 20 cm, come from light-scattering nanostructures.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmorfo-peleid","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fmorfo-peleid.png","10.08.2026",{"title":629,"description":630,"path":631,"coverImage":632,"publishedAt":633,"order":318},"Plain Tiger","The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) is among the world's most widely distributed butterflies, ranging from Africa to South Asia and Australia.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fdanajida-hrizipp","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fdanajida-hrizipp.png","16.06.2026",{"title":635,"description":636,"path":637,"coverImage":638,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Poplar Admiral","The poplar admiral is a large forest butterfly with dark wings and a white band. Males aggressively defend territory in tree crowns.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Flentochnik-topolevyi","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Flentochnik-topolevyi.jpg",{"title":640,"description":641,"path":642,"coverImage":643,"publishedAt":644,"order":318},"Priam's Birdwing","Priam's Birdwing is one of the largest, most spectacular butterflies. Males show iridescent green and black wings; larger females are brown and yellow.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpticekrylka-priam","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpticekrylka-priam.png","05.06.2026",{"title":646,"description":647,"path":648,"coverImage":649,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Purple Emperor","The purple emperor is one of the most beautiful butterflies in Europe. The male's wings shimmer with violet-blue iridescence in certain light.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperelivnitsa-iris","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperelivnitsa-iris.jpg",{"title":651,"description":652,"path":653,"coverImage":654,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Purple Hairstreak","The purple hairstreak is a small lycaenid with emerald-green undersides, living in oak woodland across Europe, most active high in the canopy.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzefir-dubovyi","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fzefir-dubovyi.jpg",{"title":656,"description":657,"path":658,"coverImage":659,"publishedAt":411,"order":318},"Queen Alexandra's Birdwing","Queen Alexandra's birdwing is the world's largest day-flying butterfly, female wingspan up to 280 mm. Lives only in Papua New Guinea; endangered.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpticekrylka-aleksandry","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpticekrylka-aleksandry.jpg",{"title":661,"description":662,"path":663,"coverImage":664,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Queen of Spain Fritillary","The queen of Spain fritillary is a small butterfly with numerous silvery spots on the hindwing underside, occurring from lowlands to mountains.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-malaya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-malaya.jpg",{"title":666,"description":667,"path":668,"coverImage":669,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Red Admiral","The red admiral is a migratory butterfly with dark brown wings and a scarlet band. Each summer it migrates into temperate Eurasia, reaching the northern part of its range from the Mediterranean.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fadmiral","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fadmiral.jpg",{"title":671,"description":672,"path":673,"coverImage":674,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Scarce Swallowtail","The scarce swallowtail is a large swallowtail with cream-yellow wings and characteristic dark stripes. It is conspicuous in May in fruit orchards.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpodalirii","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpodalirii.jpg",{"title":676,"description":677,"path":678,"coverImage":679,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Silver-washed Fritillary","The silver-washed fritillary is a large woodland butterfly with orange wings. The underside of the hindwings shimmers with silvery pearl-like spots.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-bolshaya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fperlamutrovka-bolshaya.jpg",{"title":681,"description":682,"path":683,"coverImage":684,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Small Apollo","The small Apollo is a mountain Papilio with white wings similar to the Apollo but smaller. It lives in high mountains of the Altai, Siberia, and Central Asia.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Ffeby","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Ffeby.jpg",{"title":686,"description":687,"path":688,"coverImage":689,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Small Blue","The small blue is the smallest blue in Europe, with inconspicuous gray wings in both sexes; it lives on poor dry meadows with vetch.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fkupidok","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fkupidok.jpg",{"title":691,"description":692,"path":693,"coverImage":694,"publishedAt":695,"order":318},"Small Copper","The small copper is one of Europe's most vivid small butterflies — fiery orange-copper forewings flash in sun across meadows and heathlands worldwide.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fchervonet-ognennyj","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fchervonet-ognennyj.png","19.06.2026",{"title":697,"description":698,"path":699,"coverImage":700,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Small Heath","The small heath is a small reddish-brown butterfly of open meadows. It is one of the most abundant browns and occurs almost everywhere.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsennitsa-obyknovennaya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fsennitsa-obyknovennaya.jpg",{"title":702,"description":703,"path":704,"coverImage":705,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary","The small pearl-bordered fritillary is a small fritillary of wet meadows, with clear white and rusty spots in a pattern on the hindwing underside.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fboloria-selene","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fboloria-selene.jpg",{"title":707,"description":708,"path":709,"coverImage":710,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Small Tortoiseshell","The small tortoiseshell is one of the most common day-flying butterflies of the temperate zone, with bright orange wings, black spots, and blue marginal 'eyes'.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fkrapivnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fkrapivnitsa.jpg",{"title":712,"description":713,"path":714,"coverImage":715,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Small White","The small white is a small white butterfly similar to the large white, whose caterpillars feed on cabbage — the most common garden pest among the whites.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Frepnitsa","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Frepnitsa.jpg",{"title":717,"description":718,"path":719,"coverImage":720,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Southern Festoon","The southern festoon is an early-spring butterfly of southern Russia with cream wings and red spots — one of the first swallowtails to fly each year.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpolyksena","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fpolyksena.jpg",{"title":722,"description":723,"path":724,"coverImage":725,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Southern Swallowtail","The southern swallowtail is a rare Papilio with yellow-and-black wings, living in mountain areas of the Caucasus and Crimea, very seldom seen.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Falexanor","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Falexanor.jpg",{"title":727,"description":728,"path":729,"coverImage":730,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"Speckled Wood","The speckled wood is a mottled orange-brown butterfly of shady woods, preferring partial shade and damp forest paths across much of Europe.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbarkhatnitsa-egeriya","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbarkhatnitsa-egeriya.jpg",{"title":732,"description":733,"path":734,"coverImage":735,"publishedAt":736,"order":318},"Ulysses Swallowtail","The Ulysses Swallowtail is a large rainforest swallowtail whose iridescent electric-blue wings flash through the canopy of Queensland and New Guinea.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fparusnik-uliss","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fparusnik-uliss.png","02.06.2026",{"title":738,"description":739,"path":740,"coverImage":741,"publishedAt":378,"order":318},"White Admiral","The white admiral is an elegant forest butterfly with dark brown wings and a broad white band. It flies in deciduous woods with honeysuckle.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbelolentochnik-kamilla","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Fbelolentochnik-kamilla.jpg",{"title":743,"description":744,"path":745,"coverImage":746,"publishedAt":747,"order":318},"Woodland Ringlet","The woodland ringlet (Erebia medusa) is a satyr butterfly of damp meadows across central Europe, with chocolate-brown wings and orange-ringed eyespots.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Ferebiya-meduza","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fvidy\u002Ferebiya-meduza.png","27.07.2026",[],[750,752],{"label":348,"path":349,"coverImage":589,"latinName":751},"Daphnis nerii",{"label":354,"path":355,"coverImage":488,"latinName":753},"Saturnia pyri",[755,757,758,760],{"label":345,"path":346,"coverImage":756,"latinName":318},"\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fnochanye-babochki-i-motylki.jpg",{"label":348,"path":349,"coverImage":589,"latinName":751},{"label":351,"path":352,"coverImage":759,"latinName":318},"\u002Fimages\u002Fopredelitel\u002Fpo-gusenitse.png",{"label":354,"path":355,"coverImage":488,"latinName":753},[762,767,769,774,780],{"title":763,"description":764,"path":765,"coverImage":766,"publishedAt":378,"order":342},"Day-flying butterflies","Day-flying butterflies are the most conspicuous Lepidoptera: they fly in sunlight, have club-shaped antennae, and often bright colouration.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fdnevnye-babochki","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fdnevnye-babochki.jpg",{"title":345,"description":768,"path":346,"coverImage":756,"publishedAt":378,"order":292},"Nocturnal butterflies and moths are a diverse group of Lepidoptera active at dusk and night. There are far more species than among day-flying butterflies.",{"title":770,"description":771,"path":772,"coverImage":773,"publishedAt":378,"order":298},"Large butterflies","Large butterflies impress with wingspan: from the familiar swallowtail to giant birdwings with wings wider than 25 centimetres.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fkrupnye-babochki","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fkrupnye-babochki.jpg",{"title":775,"description":776,"path":777,"coverImage":778,"publishedAt":378,"order":779},"Rare butterflies","Rare butterflies — threatened species: Apollo, clouded Apollo, large blue, and other declining Lepidoptera.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fredkie-babochki","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fredkie-babochki.jpg",4,{"title":781,"description":782,"path":783,"coverImage":784,"publishedAt":378,"order":785},"How to identify a butterfly species","Step-by-step guide to identifying a butterfly: size, colour, wing shape, antennae, place and time of encounter. Methods without capture and using photographs.","\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fkak-opredelit-vid-babochki","\u002Fimages\u002Fvidy-babochek\u002Fkak-opredelit-vid-babochki.jpg",5,1787125901781]