How many wings do butterflies have? How many pairs of wings does the butterfly have?

Sometimes the simplest questions can be put indeadlock and make for a long time to think. For example, how many wings do butterflies have? At first glance, the answer is obvious - four. But many quite sincerely believe that there are two of them. Why such confusion arises, what kind of structure are lepidopterous and how many butterfly wings in fact - the theme of this article.

Who are butterflies?

These creatures belong to the class of insects, the detachmentLepidoptera. They are named so because their wings are covered with tiny scales. They are modified (oblate) chitinous hairs. Like a thick carpet, they cover the wings of butterflies and provide them with a bright and diverse color. On each of the wings their number can reach one million.

Scales are different: optical, pigmented and odorous. The latter release pheromones - special substances that attract individuals of the opposite sex. Some butterflies can feel the female for tens of kilometers. Pigment scales color the wings in a variety of shades of color, and the optical ones have ribs refracting the light. Because of them the wings of butterflies can pour.

Now the group of Lepidoptera numbers about 250 thousand species.

The structure of the wings

Answering the question, how many butterfly wings,briefly consider its structure. The insect itself consists of three parts - the head, chest and abdomen. In the middle and back of the chest are wings. By the way, how many pairs of wings does a butterfly have? The answer can be found in this diagram.

It clearly shows that the Lepidoptera has twopairs of wings - two front and two rear. They are membranous, they have a number of veins. A two-layered membrane, stretched over a framework of veins, forms a wing.

Why it seems that there are only two wings - right andto the left of the abdomen of the insect? The fact is that in the butterfly they are located in the same plane, and in some representatives of Lepidoptera they also have a membrane that connects them. Butterfly flaps two pairs of wings synchronously. This creates a false impression that there are two of them.

Painting of butterfly wings - infinite variety of shades

By the beauty and richness of the bright tones of Lepidopteraconstantly compare with flowers. Among the butterflies, there are very inconspicuous individuals, dressed in gray and brown tones. They basically lead a nocturnal lifestyle, and their unobtrusive coloring allows them to perfectly camouflage themselves on the rocks, branches or bark of trees. But there are many more butterflies with amazingly beautiful wings, painted in the most incredible colors.

The most unusual wings of butterflies

The variety of unusual forms and coloring of the Lepidoptera wings can not but delight. Among them there are such specimens that seem simply impossible, they look so amazing.

Glass butterfly Greta oto has transparentWings framed by a dark border. The insect's calf is painted in brown tones. Against this backdrop, the wings, devoid of pigment flakes, look completely transparent. In the forests of the Amazon, Greta oto is one of the most common butterflies, but for us its external appearance is very unusual and beautiful.

Saturnia Madagascar of the familypeacock-eyes - the owner of unusual wings with long tails. They have a bright color (from lemon color to orange). This butterfly is one of the largest in the world. On each wing the size of the human hand is a spot in the shape of the eye. It looks like a butterfly that lives only in Madagascar, impressively.

A snow-white fingerprint looks as if covered with feathers. These butterflies are very small, reach 10-40 millimeters in length and lead a nocturnal life.

Conclusion

How many wings do butterflies have? The answer to a seemingly simple question is not always easy. But this is an excellent occasion to look at butterflies and once again admire the ingenuity and imagination of nature.