Butterfly Classification How They’re Named

Most butterflies have an English name and all have a Latin one, their scientific label which is derived from the “Binomial” system which was first used by Carl Linnaeus (Properly written Carl Von Linne) in 1753, in his book Species Plantarum. This was the starting point for scientific nomenclature for botanists, and the same happened for zoologists when Linnaeus published the tenth edition of Systema Naturae in 1758. What made him unique amongst scientists of his time was that he was a very systematic worker being very through and orderly. Can you imagine the mess we would be in today if Linnaeus had tried to impose a naming system on over a million different animal species without it being rigorous and methodical?

The Latin name has at least two parts and may well have extra names tacked on the end. Sometimes they translate into meaningful phrase especially those named back in Linnaeus’s time. For instance, the Small Blue is well known scientifically as Cupido minimus, which translates as “little Cupid”. This is because it is a beautiful little insect, deserving of such a name  this is typical of the period when scientists liked to put a little romance into their work in this case it was described for science in 1775 by Fuessly. 

When the species in question has various subspecies an addition is made to the name, for instance when the English form of the Old world Swallowtail, Latin name Papilio machaon, is considered, it has the word britannicus added, so it becomes Papilio machaon Britannicus. Notice also that the first letter of the Latin name is spelled with a capital. This is the generic name, whereas the first letter of the second the specific name and any others are lower case. 

You will often also see a name and possibly a date at the end of the Latin name such as “Linnaeus, 1758” this is the Descriptor the person who first described the species for science, and the date is when this information was first published. However, if the name and date are placed in parentheses, it means that the species has been moved from genus where it was first placed into another one. This may all sound a bit complicated, but it’s scientific convention it also helps to clarify the situation if someone else mistakenly uses the same Latin name for a different species. 

One of the many confusing aspects of naming any plant or animal is that as we discover more and more about which species are related to which, we have to reclassify them that is, we have to take them out of the place where we formerly thought they belonged in the “giant family tree of life,” and put them in what we hope is the right place. This means that we have to change their Latin name. To make matters even more confusing a single species may have many different common names, even in the same country. For instance the Peacock butterfly formerly had the scientific name Vanessa io. This then became Nymphalis io, and then Inachis io. But the Peacock butterfly or Europe is a very different species from that called the Peacock in the United States.

The Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world until the 1960s, Shrinking lake, central Asia

The Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world until the 1960s, when the Soviet Union diverted water from the rivers that fed the lake so cotton and other crops could be grown in the arid plains of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The black outline shows the approximate coastline of the lake in 1960. By the time of the 2000 image, the Northern Aral Sea had separated from the Southern Aral Sea, which itself had split into eastern and western lobes. A dam built in 2005 helped the northern sea recover much of its water level at the expense of the southern sea. Dry conditions in 2014 caused the southern sea’s eastern lobe to dry up completely for the first time in modern times. The loss of the moderating influence of such a large body of water has made the region’s winters colder and summers hotter and drier.

Psychotria elata

This gorgeous pair of red, luscious lips belongs to a plant known as Psychotria elata, a tropical tree found mainly in the rain forests of Central and South American countries. Affectionately, Psychotria elata is called Hooker’s Lips or the Hot Lips Plants. The plant has evolved into its current shape to attract pollinators including hummingbirds and butterflies. This specimen was blooming at the botanical gardens here in tropical Queensland Australia.

The silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa)

The silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa) is a species of deciduous tree native to the north-east of Argentina, east of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. It is resistant to drought and moderate cold. It grows fast in spurts when water is abundant, and sometimes reaches more than 82 ft in height. Its trunk is bottle-shaped, generally bulging in its lower third, measuring up to 7 ft in girth.

Ansoo Lake

Ansoo Lake is a high-altitude lake in the Kaghan Valley and is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes of the world. It is situated in the Mansehra District of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range.

Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, 14 kilometres outside the Village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, 14 kilometres outside the Village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet.

What is the difference between a butterfly and a Moth?

One of the most common questions any lepidopterist is asked by members of public concerns the difference between a butterfly and a moth? The question is usually on the lines of surely, moths are small brown things that fly at night, and eat clothes, however butterflies fly during the day, and are nice pretty things? Unluckily it’s not nearly so simple. There’re several other misunderstandings too, such as butterflies hold their wings closed above their heads when they’re shut, but flat to the ground when they’re open. Well this is patently not so. Many thousands of moth species hold their wings closed above their backs, just like a butterfly. 

Moreover another feature often suggested as a structure to tell the two apart is the antennae, the common perception is that on a butterfly they’re clubbed, and on a moth they are furry but this is wrong again! Several thousands of moth species have antennae similar like a butterfly and some butterfly species have moth like antennae.

One of the structures that is an almost a distinguishing factor, is the frenulum the special wing-catch used to keep the hind wings from riding up over the fore wings. In nearly all butterflies it is of one type, and in most moths, it is another. Although there’s an Australian skipper called Euschemon Rafflesia which cause this distinction to fail, as the male has a moth type frenulum there’re also many moth species which have a butterfly type wing catch.  

As mentioned above, the idea that butterflies are pretty and fly by day, but moths are dull and brown and fly by night, is a common sentiment but it’s entirely erroneous. For example, the Urania moth looking for a dull and brown night flyer, you couldn’t be more wrong it’s obviously highly colored and it also flies by day.

The issue of day flying against night flying is certainly not clear cut at all, as there’re great several moths that are day fliers, however there’re very few butterflies that fly at night. There’re species that will fly at night during migration while over the sea. But it’s not their usual behavior given the choice they will rest at night. 

When an animal is active by day, it is said to be diumal and when it is active by night, it is said to be nocturnal. There’re although myriad species that is active in the half light of dusk and dawn. These species are said to be crepuscular, i.e. of diurnal moths include many of tiger moths, which are often mistaken for butterflies, but there’s a family of moths that are closely day fliers. These’re the Burnet moths belongs to family Zygaenidae, which like so many diurnal moths are chemically protected from the majority of predators. It has been noted that some of them have traces of cyanide within their body tissues. 

However there’re very few nocturnal butterflies there’re a great several that are crepuscular, including many of the Satyrs of the family Satyridae although the most impressive are the “Owl” butterflies of the genus Caligo. There butterflies occur in South America up through Central America and into the West Indies. Their larvae mostly feed on banana plants, where they can become pests in commercial plantations. They adults often like to feed on rotting fruit, which can be their downfall, as collectors often use this weakness to set bait traps for them. 

Tillandsia Purple Flower

Lawrance jacob, you have an adventuring spirit and a very kind heart. I wanted to find something that'd remind you that even in times of worry or doubt that you're never alone and that there's a bright light that burns within you whenever you need it. I select for you the Tillandsia Purple Flower which is an epiphytes (also called aerophytes or air plants) i.e. they normally grow without soil while attached to other plants. This flower reminds me of your sky diving, water diving free spirit.

Mono Lake - California USA

Mono Lake is a large, shallow lake USA, saline soda that is located in Mono County in the state of California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a closed basin (which has no outlet the sea). The absence of the high level causes outfalls salts that accumulate on the lake. These salts also make the lake water is alkaline. It also has high levels of arsenic.

Attabad Lake, Gojal, also known as Gojal Lake, is a lake in the Gojal Valley of northern Pakistan created in January 2010 by a landslide dam.

 A view of Atabad lake, Gojal Valley, GB Pakistan (shot taken from the boat while crossing the Lake). Attabad Lake, Gojal, also known as Gojal Lake, is a lake in the Gojal Valley of northern Pakistan created in January 2010 by a landslide dam.

Stairway to Heaven by Falk Friederichs on Fivehundredpx The Zugspitze, at 2,962 metres above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest mountain in Germany.

Nests of a Bald Eagle

When a young pair of Bald Eagles wants to build a brand new nest, their first work is to find a place for it. They most likely prefer a territory close to water, where they can catch fish for their babies without wasting time flying back and forth a long distance, but in some areas may nest more than a few miles from fishing areas. In many parts of Alaska & northern Canada where trees are very scarce and short, eagles habitually nest on the ground. Therefore in the forested areas, they habitually choose one of the tallest trees in the area. If this is a "super-canopy" tree one sticking up above nearby trees the eagles can see all around, and also can fly into the nest without bonking their massive wings into branches.

Moreover in Canada and the northern and western states, several eagles always opt to select a coniferous tree-usually a pine, spruce, or fir. However in the eastern states, where big conifers may not be accessible in otherwise good habitat, eagles are more expected to nest in an oak, hickory, cottonwood, or other large leafy tree. Pairs habitually start a new nest in a living tree, though there’re often dead trees ("snags") neighboring where they have a view all around when they're resting close the nest. The healthier the tree it is the better. Well, Eagles normally use and keep adding sticks to their nests for years and years. Like a one well-studied Ohio nest was used for 34 years, until the tree lastly blew down. At times a tree with an eagle nest dies after several years. If the tree remains standing, then the eagles habitually remain there as long as their nest is safe. But the healthier the tree is to start with, the longer it will last.

Pangong Tso is one of the largest brackish lakes in Asia.

It is located at a height of 4,250 meters, far away in barren land in Ladakh India, Pangong Tso is one of the largest brackish lakes in Asia. The beautiful crystal clear blue lake sprawls over an area of 1hundred kilometers across the borders of two countries in India and China. It is one of the most charismatic lakes situated on the Changtang plateau in eastern Ladakh region. Pangong Lake is also famous by the name of Hollow Lake and appears as a clear symbol of nature craftsmanship. The brackish water plays with sunlight to produce different effects of light. One-third part of the lake lies in India while the remaining two-third lies in Tibet, a region controlled by China.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka Mountains in Russia, Lenticular Cloud over the Mountain,it is a stratovolcano, the highest active volcano of Eurasia.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka Mountains in Russia, Lenticular Cloud over the Mountain,it is a stratovolcano, the highest active volcano of Eurasia. Its steep, symmetrical cone towers about 100 kilometres from the Bering Sea. and is part of the natural Volcanoes of Kamchatka.

Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) outside the Village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet (1,885 m). The lake has a surface area of 0.5 square kilometers (0.19 sq mi). The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its crest until mid to late June. When it is full, it reflects a distinct shade of blue. The color is due to the refraction of light off the rock flour deposited in the lake on a continual basis.

Lake McKenzie is a perched lake on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia.

Lake McKenzie is a perched lake on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia. The lake is located in the Great Sandy National Park. The lake is located 6.2 km southeast of Kingfisher Resort. It is 1,200 metres long and up to 930 metres wide.

Bonsai Cherry Tree

Bonsai Cherry Tree - Cherry Blossom (Sakura) is so beautiful in the garden but with one of these you can enjoy the beautiful blossoms inside your home.

Namtso or Lake Nam China

Namtso or Lake Nam means “holy lake” in Tibetan language, it’s a mountain lake located on the border between Damxung County (Lhasa) and #Baigoin County (Nagqu) in China. It is a salt lake that birthed from Himalayan tectonic plate movements in Paleogene age. The lake’s water comes from rain, melted ice and snow of NyenchenTonglha mountains and gives a rich blue color on the surface that makes sky and lake one, thus making entire region mystical.

Jack London Lake, Jagodina District, Magadan Region, Russia.

One of the most exotic and beautiful lakes of the Far East, located at an altitude of 803 meters above sea level. Its length in the north-west direction is 10 km., And depth - 50 meters. The highest peak in the Lake District is the peak Aboriginal. Into the lake several creeks and river Purga. There are 4 islands on the lake, one of the islands divides it into two parts - the Small and Big Jack. Jack London Lake is located in a reserved zone. This is a great place to stay, where you can spend time on the wildlife in the tent, enjoying the peace and pristine beauty of these places.
There are guided tours to visit the lake, in the tour also includes sightseeing Magadan, a visit to Lake "Dancing grayling." Tourists are accommodated in wooden huts or tents. Offers fishing, berry and mushroom picking, walking tour to the lake by Jack London (3 km.), wildlife photographytransition to Annachag ridge to the base of the peak Aboriginal, excursions to the islands, and many other attractions

In a tiny corner of western Poland, in Gryfino (not far from Szczecin) a forest of about 400 pine trees grow with a 90 degree bend at the base of their trunks – all bent northward.

In a tiny corner of western Poland, in Gryfino (not far from Szczecin) a forest of about 400 pine trees grow with a 90 degree bend at the base of their trunks – all bent northward.

Moraine Lake Canada

The gorgeous Moraine Lake is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, 14 KM (8.7 mi) outside the Village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is well situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet (1,885 m). The lake Moraine has a surface area of .5 square kilometres (0.19 sq mi). The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its crest until mid to late June. When it is full, it reflects a distinct shade of blue. The colour is due to the refraction of light off the rock flour deposited in the lake on a continual basis.

Karambar Lake or Qurumbar Lake Gilgit Pakistan

The Gorgeous Karambar Lake (also famous as Qurumbar Lake) is a high altitude lake located in Ishkomen, a Tehsil of District Ghizer in Gilgit–Baltistan, near the boundary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The Lake is the 31st highest lake in the world and 2nd highest in Pakistan at a height of 14,121 feet and one of the highest biologically active lakes on earth. The Lake length is about 3.9 kilometers and width is 2 km and, average depth is 52 meters. Karamabr Lake is the deepest lake in the valley with a maximum and mean depth of 55m and 17.08m respectively and is spread over a surface area of 263.44 hectares (2,634,400 m2) and discharges into Karambar valley of Gilgit Baltistan. Water clarity level is 13.75, which is highest value ever recorded in the literature of lakes in Pakistan.

The spectacular boiling lave and ice bubbles images that celebrate the beauty of nature

These’re extremely beautiful pictures you’ve to look again and again to realize exactly what they are. German photographer Thorsten Scheuermann has travelled the world to snap a series of images that take a left-field view at nature’s beauty concentrating on one sole object. The photographer took the dangerous initiatives to captures the luminous, boiling lava of Kilauea Volcano, blue cracked mud in Oregon's Alvord Desert, and a humble row of trees in Leavenworth, Washington. These’re stunning sites that can gain greater significance and have their beauty exposed when excluding everything else around them. It was really a memorable trip and I enjoyed a lot with lot of new learning’s. The moments of beauty around me in everyday life, things like evening light filtering through leaves or an interesting cloud formation spotted during my commute. My object is to encouraged people to pay more attention to their environment & love their surroundings. I absolutely relish the beings outdoors with my camera, even weather conditions aren’t perfect. I always have a good time just getting out there and enjoy the process of looking for photo opportunities. I am always critical of my own work and realize lots of opportunity for improvement. But since that means spending more time outside photographing, it's inspiring rather than discouraging.Source: Dailymail