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When reporters appear on the street, and this can happen already in March, it is customary to make a wish, and, as many people say, it will come true.
These lepidopterans belong to the family of whites, and their closest relatives are lemongrass and cabbage.
What does a butterfly look like?
These butterflies do not differ in large sizes: the wingspan is from 3 to 6 cm. It has 8-pair legs, of which 5 are located in the peritoneum, 3 - pectoral.
The color of the wings of a male of this species is different in that it has a very noticeable yellow hue, and sometimes a bright orange. In females, the outfit is much more modest - an unremarkable light green, and some have white. On closer inspection, all representatives of the family show very small inclusions in the central part of each anterior winglet on the outside. The male has one, the female has several. The hind wings are clean; there is no pattern on them. On the lower surface of the wings, the color is pale yellow.
The body of the female repressor is green, and along the back passes, interrupted, a thin yellow line, standing out with a darker shade. On the sides of the line is light yellow.
Place of residence
The most comfortable thing for the repnitsa is to live in places where there are many bushes and tree thickets. But, if it is too dense forest, then it scares away these butterflies, as they prefer open spaces. Because a large cluster of them can be found in the meadow, the edges. They also settle near the sea. But perhaps their most favorite places in the fields and gardens, especially if cabbage grows there, are the greatest delicacy of these butterflies, which are pests of cultivated plants.
If the female repents have chosen a place to live in mountainous areas, then usually it does not exceed more than 2,000 m above sea level.
Lifestyle
Female reporters lead a daily life. Of all the lepidopterans, they are the most resistant to cold. Proof of this is the fact that in October they are active, and they can be seen everywhere, and in March they again delight people with their flights, notifying that the frost has ended, and again the heat has come.
Reproduction of female repens is bisexual. If the male flutters, making intricate steps, this means that the breeding time has come, and it is time to attract a partner to reproduce offspring. After mating, it's time to lay eggs.
Females can put them off one at a time. They stay on the sheet by sticking to leaves or stems. And although all the eggs are at a distance from each other, they can often be up to 200, but it happens that the number reaches 500.
These small eggs can be recognized by color with a very pale yellow, fawn or white hue. They are oval in shape and more elongated at the edges. The development period is no more than a couple of days.
In May days, less often in June, caterpillars appear. Their body does not have hairs, a body with a smooth structure. This stage lasts about a month. During this time, the food of the caterpillar does not differ in excess: they eat only the leafy part of the plants, the most appetizing.
The development of the caterpillar takes about a month, and during this time it replaces five ages. At this time, lives on the outside of the leaves. If during this period he feels any danger, then he raises the front of the body, but at the same time draws his head in. A threatening pose is complemented by a change in body color. A bright red color appears, plus the caterpillar can release caustic fluid.
Adults feed on collecting nectar from a wide variety of plants.
Harm to cultivated plants
The greatest harm to cultivated plants can be caused by caterpillars of the female repsex if they settled in the garden. Their cabbage is especially attractive - both cauliflower and white cabbage, as well as radish and turnips, rutabaga and horseradish. But wild herbs become objects of their many feasts. This is a reseda, a shepherd’s bag and other plants.
At first, the caterpillars eat the very edges of the leaves, leaving a sticky sclera that extends to the entire surface. Then he gets to the head, gnawing at it and leaving a selection. As a result, rotting of the vegetable begins. Because people come up with various methods of how to deal with such a pest.
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