About this book
The book tells about more than fifty rare, endemic and beautiful butterflies, representatives of 15 families inhabiting the territory of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. For each species, information is provided on the distribution, habitats, flight dates, biology, etymology, as well as some interesting moments in butterflies’ lives.
Digital and print editions, Alexander B. Zhdanko,
200 pages, 410 colour illustrations
Digital drawings and book design for
© Siri Scientific Press (Great Britain)
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Butterflies of Kazakhstan and Central Asia
The illustrations are made from collectible exemplars based on photos taken in nature. And with the direct consultations of the author of the book — a scientist-lepidopterist. The introductory articles clearly and in detail consider the biology of butterflies. The drawings were created in lifelong and academic poses (top view with indication of scale). Drawings of food plants of caterpillars, caterpillars, pupae and eggs are given.
Ecological-faunist species overview
Large keeled Apollo
Parnassius tianschanicus Oberthür, 1879
♀
♂
The wingspan is 75–85 mm.
Distribution: Gissar, Pamir-Alai, Tien Shan, Northeast Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, Western China. In Kazakhstan: Kyrgyz Ridge., Zailiyskiy and Kungey Alatau, Ridge. Ketmen, Terskey Alatau.
Habitats and biology: Under stones of residual mountains, also around human dwellings. It is the most plastic species of the Parnassian genus. Sometimes it departs early by the 1st of May and occurs before the first snow in the fall. This butterfly is inseparable from the lush summer bloom of mountain grasses.
Etymology: The toponymic name is "Tyanshansk".
Mating at the Large keeled Apollo
Male on a flower
Scarce swallowtail
Iphiclides podalirius (Linnaeus, 1758)
The wingspan is 75–85 mm.
Distribution: From Europe through Kazakhstan to Western China.
Habitats and biology: Deciduous and mixed forests, mainly in river floodplains, shrub thickets in low and medium mountains, up to heights of 1800 m. Flight: May — August, in two generations. Forage plants — various Rosaceae: Cherry (Cerasus), Almond Amygdalus, Plum (Prunus), Bird cherry (Padus), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Apple tree (Malus), Rowan tree (Sorbus).
The caterpillar of all sailboats of the genus Papilio has a kind of saccular gland, which, when excited, turns outward behind the head, emitting an unpleasant odor, which scares off enemies. The chrysalis hibernates.
Etymology: Podalirius (Greek, myth.) — Podalirius, son of Asclepius (Aesculapius), military doctor of the Achians during theTroy siege, brother of Machaon.
Butterflies in flight
Red admiral
Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)
The wingspan is 48–55 mm.
Distribution: From North Africa through Europe, Central Asia and Siberia to North America and New Zealand. Occurs sporadically in the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan and Dzhungarskiy Alatau. In Kazakhstan: from the Ural region. through the northern and central regions (locally) to Altai, Dzhungarskiy Alatau and Tien Shan.
Habitats and biology: Diverse habitats in valleys and foothills, including cultivated landscapes, gardens and parks. Flight: May — October, sometimes in two generations. Forage plants are Urtica dioica Nettle (Urticaceae family), Carduus Thistle (Astraceae family) and Humulus lupulus hops (Cannabaceae family). The butterfly hibernates. This butterfly belongs to the migratory species, but if the migration routes of the thistle are studied quite well, which flies from the Sahara to Scandinavia in the spring, then there is a species for the admiral, but there are still many mysteries. These butterflies were found on the high mountain passes of the Tien Shan frozen into the ice, along with other insects.
Etymology: Atalanta (Greek myth.), Daughter of the king of Arcadia, fed by a bear, participant in the Calydonian hunt of the Argonauts campaign.
♂
Butterflies on flowers
The wingspan is 22–28 mm.
Distribution: Altai (ssp.argali), as well as the Saur, Manrak, Kurchumsky ridges (ssp.arkhar Lukhtanov, 1990).
Habitats and biology: Dry rocky slopes from 1000 to 2500 m. Flight: May — June. The forage plant of the caterpillars is the semi-shrub sharkfish (Oxytropis hystrix) from the legume family (Fabaceae). Caterpillars feed on flowers and then on fruits inside the plant pods. The chrysalis hibernates.
Glaucopsyche argali
Glaucopsyche argali Elwes, 1899
Butterflies on the forage plant of the caterpillars is the semi-shrub sharkfish (Oxytropis hystrix)
Southern eyed hawk moth
Guelder-rose
(Viburnum opulus)
Southern eyed hawk moth
Smerinthus kindermannii Lederer, 1853
The wingspan is 60–65 mm.
Distribution: Minor and Central Asia.
Habitats and biology: Meadows of different types. Flight: April — May and July — August (two generations). Forage plants — Willow (Salix) (family Salicaeae), Kalina (Viburnum) (family Viburnaceae). It is known that hawk moths have a very fast flight. Experiments have shown that they can reach speeds of 45–55 km per hour! In this indicator, "sphinx butterflies" are second only to dragonflies. Many city dwellers, of course, observed the common proboscis, which is very common in the summer on zinnia or petunia flowers in city flower beds. The butterfly masterly hovers over the flower, sucking out the nectar. The hawk moths hold the record for the length of the proboscis, for example, the hawk moth Antaeus, living in the tropics, reaches a length of 30 cm!
Etymology: Albert Kindermann (1810–1860); collected lepidoptera for many famous lepidopterists in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Western Altai.
Caterpillar
A hawk moth feeding on the nectar of flowers
Caterpillar
Narrow-bordered bee hawk moth
Hemaris tityus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The wingspan is 38–42 mm.
Distribution: From Europe and Minor Asia through Central Asia to Southern Siberia.
Habitats and biology: Steppe and meadow stations in low and middle mountains. Flight: April — June. Fodder plant of scabiosa (Scabiosa) from the Vorsyankov family (Dipsacaceae). The caterpillar is green, with two white stripes on the back. The pupa is black-brown. This interesting hawk moth can usually be seen in spring, even when there is still snow in the hollows. At first glance, it does not look like a butterfly: clumsy with transparent wings like a bee or a wasp. The female is diligently looking for a place suitable for laying eggs at the base of the rosette of the fodder plant, but when disturbed, she is instantly carried away to the heights.
Chrysalis
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BUTTERFLIES OF THE RED DATA BOOK OF KAZAKHSTAN
Digital drawings and design for
© Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan
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About this posters
The posters feature butterflies listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan.
Alexanor or southern swallowtail
Papilio alexanor Esper, 1799
The wingspan is 70–80 mm.
Distribution: Southern Europe, Asia Minor to the Middle East, Central Asia to Iran and Afghanistan. In Kazakhstan: Syrdarya Karatau, western part of the Kyrgyz ridges.
Habitats and biology: Stony, mountain slopes covered with xerophilous vegetation, at altitudes of 1000–2700 m. Flight: May — July. Forage plants — various species of Umbelliferae, including Cutter (Falcaria vulgaris), Zhabritsa (Seseli libanotis), Pimple (Torilis heterophylla), Ferula (Ferula ssp.). In the ridge. Karatau caterpillar on Ferula ugamica. The chrysalis hibernates.
The rarest and most original species of sailboat in Kazakhstan and Central Asia is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. It is always considered a big luck to meet in the southern part of Kazakhstan. It is protected in the Karatau reserve. It is common in southern Europe.
Etymology: Alexanor (Greek) — Aleksanor, “courageous defender” (a variant of the name Alexander).
Southern festoon
Zerynthia polyxena (Denis et Schiffermuller, 1775)
The wingspan is 47–50 mm.
Distribution: South and South-East Europe, Minor Asia, South Urals. In Kazakhstan: West Kazakhstan region, Aktobe region (locally).
Habitats and biology: Meadow stations mainly along river valleys. Flight: April — May. Forage plants — Kirkazon (Aristolochia clematilis) from the Kirkazonov family (Aristolochiaceae).
One of the most original Kazakh butterflies in appearance. Typical mesophile. The only representative of the relict monotypic genus.
Etymology: Polyxena (Greek, myth.) — Polyxena, daughter of the Trojan king Priam and Hecuba, beloved of Achilles, according to legend, sacrificed to his shadow by Neoptolemus.
