Insects of Crimea: species and habitats

The peninsula of Crimea is widely famous due to its favorable climate and nature. This combination of external conditions contributes to the fact that a large number of a wide variety of insects inhabit this territory. And if some of them make a positive impression on a person (for example, butterflies), then others, on the contrary, can have a negative impact. In addition, a large number of harmful and dangerous insects are found on the peninsula.

In general, if we talk about the general composition of insects that live in Crimea, then scientists usually distinguish several large groups:

• dipterans - they are represented by such insects as flies, mosquitoes, midges, horseflies, etc .;
• lepidoptera - typical representatives of the squad are moths and butterflies;
• hymenoptera - for example, ants, wasps and bees;
• beetles - beetles of various species;
• half-winged - to them, in the first place, are bugs.

The listed groups make up the vast majority of insects that live on the peninsula (about 95%). The remaining 5% are represented by more rare and small species - for example, these are dragonflies or praying mantises.

A large number of insects live in Crimea. But one should not be afraid right away, because many of them not only do not possess dangerous properties, but, on the contrary, can benefit a person.

In Crimea, there is a greater variety of insects of this species. So, the peninsula’s biggest butterfly is pear butterfly or peacock-eye. Insects with names are not inferior in size machaon, podalirium, polyxene. Besides that such creatures are especially large in size, on their surface you can also see bizarre and unusual patterns.

In addition to the types described above, in the republic are common moth butterflies several types. So, here you can see oak and oleander representatives, as well as insects with the unusual name “dead head”.

The most common are rhinoceros beetles and deer beetles. So, the first species is considered quite rare. The horn is observed only in males, and the average size of a beetle of this species is about 5 centimeters. The carapace has a shiny luster, and the belly is covered with short hairs. As for the stag beetle, it is most often found in mountains and forests.

Truly mysterious, and therefore more impressive are the mantis insects. They have a fairly large size and are capable of reaching 7 centimeters in length. Moreover, it is important to note that females are usually much larger than males.

The color of these insects can be very diverse. First of all, it depends on the habitat of the animal. If we talk about averaged indicators, then the colors of the mantis are presented in different shades of green and brown. On the territory of Crimea there is a very rare variety of mantis - striped empusa.

It should be immediately said that a large number of rare insects live in the territory of Crimea, which to one degree or another can be dangerous to humans. Despite this, even the most poisonous representatives are not deadly to the human body. Consider a description of the most common groups and groups.

These representatives of the fauna are known not only on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, but also far beyond its borders. The people often call mosquitoes mosquitoes. If we talk about the gender differences in these animals, it’s the female mosquitoes that create great inconvenience to humans, because they need human blood in order to carry out the reproduction function. At the same time, males do not bite people - they eat plant food - flower nectar.

It should be noted that About 40 species of mosquitoes live in the republic. Moreover, they are most active in relation to people in the first summer months. The consequences of these insect bites for humans are harmless, however, they present a number of inconveniences. So, the area that the mosquito has bitten will turn red and itch, in rare cases, swelling may develop (especially in the presence of allergic reactions).

These insects in Crimea are represented by several species, and some of them, because of their rarity, are listed in the Red Book. As a general rule, a bite of such an insect is not dangerous, but can cause unpleasant pain. The situation is different for those people who suffer from intolerance and allergies. So, they may experience symptoms such as swelling, nausea, and even shortness of breath. Moreover Especially dangerous are bites in the face and neck.

Another category of insects most dangerous to humans and living on the territory of Crimea is horseflies. The matter is complicated by the fact that the phase of their activity falls precisely on the summer period, when a large number of tourists and vacationers come to the peninsula.

At its core, horseflies are flies that are larger in size. They are bloodsucking. Moreover, as in the case of mosquitoes, it is the females that are more aggressive towards humans. Especially numerous accumulations of this type of insect can be found in the area of ​​various water bodies.

Insect bites themselves are quite painful, but harmless. The danger is different: people who are allergic to insect saliva, after a bite, may fall into anaphylactic shock, so they immediately need medical attention. In addition, please note that horseflies carry a large number of diseases, such as anthrax and tularemia.

In addition to insects, other creatures (arthropods, arachnids, millipedes) also live in Crimea, which can cause harm to humans. Especially often they can be found in the mountains or steppes.

The popular and better known name of the spider is karakurt - “black widow”. These arthropods have a large amount of poison (mainly females). A particularly high concentration of poison in the spider's body is found during the breeding season. The bite of such a creature is very dangerous: it can cause death.

On their own initiative, spiders will not attack, they bite only if they feel the threat is approaching. After a bite, the victim feels acute pain in the abdomen, lower back and chest. In addition, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and nausea can be attributed to side effects. Be sure to consult a doctor, and medical attention should be resorted to as soon as possible.

It is worth noting that this representative of arthropods has a rather unpleasant appearance. Color can vary in the range of golden and olive shades. As for size, the length of the scolopendra often reaches 15 centimeters. Short legs are located along the entire body of the arthropod, and round eyes and long antennae can be seen on the head.

Insects are especially active at night. They begin to attack only if if they feel aggression. The scolopendra bite site instantly turns red and swells. In some cases, after a bite, asthma attacks may occur. An increase in body temperature and a rash are also characteristic.

On the territory of the peninsula, 23 species of ticks live, and 4 of them are carriers of a dangerous disease - encephalitis. The most common habitats are grass and undersized shrubs. Most often, arthropods attack campers during outdoor activities and picnics.

If you are bitten by a tick, then it should be removed immediately. This can be done independently or by contacting a doctor. The second option is more preferable, since in this case, in a laboratory, the tick is carefully examined to determine if it was an encephalitis carrier and whether this disease threatens you.

Thus, we were able to make sure that the flora of Crimea is quite diverse and interesting. It is worth remembering that, along with useful and beautiful insects, you can find here those that can be dangerous to humans. In this regard, you should be especially careful in nature, and in the case of bites of insects unknown to you, consult a doctor immediately.

Below you can watch a video about 6 species of the most dangerous insects of the Crimea.