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

Sometimes the simplest questions can puzzle and make you think for a long time. 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 lepidoptera and how many butterfly wings in fact - the theme of this article.

Who are butterflies?

These creatures belong to the class of insects, a group of lepidopterans. They are called 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 flakes 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 on this diagram.

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

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

Coloring the wings of butterflies - an infinite variety of shades

The beauty and richness of bright tones of Lepidoptera are constantly compared with flowers. Among the butterflies, there are very inconspicuous people, 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 strikingly beautiful wings, painted in the most incredible colors.

The most unusual wings for 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.

The glass butterfly Greta oto has transparent wings 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 appearance is very unusual and beautiful.

Saturnia Madagascar from the family of peacock-eyes - the owner of unusual wings with long tails. They have a bright color (from lemon 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.