The world of butterflies in Lodz stained glass: Contemporary realizations in a historic building

The russet was not accidentally referred to as “peacock” – the multicolored spots on its wings are arranged in characteristic eyes, similar to those on the tail of a peacock. The English also recognized this, calling the insect a “peacock butterfly.” Even more interesting is the Latin name. “Aglais” means ‘Radiant’ – one of the three Greek Charites, or Roman Graces. The sisters symbolized playfulness, grace and joy, and patronized the arts, crafts and particularly lovely young people. Io, on the other hand, was the name of a nymph and lover of Zeus, on whom his wife, Hera, took severe revenge. Although the name of this quite large butterfly (up to 60 mm wingspan) is due to its beauty, the rainbow eyes are not at all a mere decoration. When frightened or attacked, the russet butterfly with a loud rustling spreads its folded at rest wings – the attacker is startled by the sight of large, staring eyes. Sometimes such a ploy saves a butterfly’s life.

The scarce swallowtail is distinguished not only by its rich, contrasting colors, but also by the characteristic “swallow tails” on the ends of its lower wings. It is to these that it owes its English name – “swallow tail”, which literally means “swallow tail”. If that weren’t enough, its Latin name is also significant. It refers to two figures of Greek mythology – Iphikles, the brother and companion of Heracles’ many expeditions, and Podalejrios – the healer, suitor of Helen, and participant in the Trojan War. Heros is most appropriate here – after all, the scarlet is one of the largest Polish butterflies, with a wingspan of up to 80 mm. We usually admire butterflies for the beauty of their wings when they reach adulthood. In the case of the claw, it’s also worth looking at the caterpillars and pupae – after all, their lives depend on the art of camouflage! The caterpillars, initially black and white, then green, change to a mustard color with age, resembling bird droppings.

The males of the Orange-tip butterflies – one of the most common Polish butterflies – can be spotted from a distance because of the characteristic bright orange spot on the wing. Females have an almost white top of the wings, while their underside – as in males – is covered with a pattern similar to military moro. The name of the species is not coincidental – the green-blue caterpillars of the aurora like to feed on cress, and will not disdain garlic or horseradish. However, when they have to compete for food, cannibalism often occurs between them. Interestingly, adult butterflies feed on the nectar of those plants they ate earlier in life. Aurora pupa are true masters of camouflage – they change their color along with the seasons, trying to fully resemble the colors of the plant on which they will spend almost a year. The transformation continues through three seasons, including winter – adult butterflies can be seen as late as mid-April.

Green hairstreak are among the smallest Polish butterflies, with a wingspan of up to 25 mm. They are unique – they are the only domestic species to have wings in a shade of sea green, with a beautiful metallic sheen. However, this color covers only the underside of the wings, visible when the butterflies sit motionless; the top of the wings is brown.Green butterfly pupae are true ant charmers. They attract these small insects with sounds similar to the ticking of a watch, audible to humans as well. They then feed the ants with a sweet secretion similar to honeydew. As a result, they are recognized as a valuable find and carried to one of the safest places in the insect world – deep inside the anthill. Few creatures threatening the greenfly pupae will be able to defeat half a million ant bodyguards. However, parting can be difficult – ants often take the adult butterfly as an intruder, so as soon as the greenfly sheds its pupa armor, it must flee.

The holly blue, as the name suggests, are blue butterflies. Their wingspan reaches 30 mm, so they are rather small. At first glance, it is possible to distinguish the female from the male – ladies of the praying mantis have a characteristic black band on their wings and a row of tiny dots of this color.The holly blue caterpillars are polyphagous, which means that they are not picky about nature’s canteen – they can feed on a variety of plants. If they have a choice, they are most likely to eat flowers and fruits, but when circumstances are not favorable – they can also feed on leaves. They adapt their coloration to the menu – they can be green, pink or even red, as long as they feed on such flowers. Both caterpillars and pupae of the praying mantis have learned to cooperate with ants. The army of these tiny insects is a terror in the insect world, hence it is better to have them on your side. Butterflies achieve this by producing a sweet substance that ants are fond of. No wonder, then, that they try to protect their living larder in various ways.

The violet coppers owe their name to the distinctive purple sheen on their black and chocolate-colored wings. The color scheme is complemented by white and orange accents, making them one of the most beautiful butterflies found in Poland. Despite its small size (23-28 mm wingspan), the violet scarlet scarlet is distinguished by its warlike disposition – the males of this species aggressively defend their territory, often chasing away from it not only rivals of their own species, but also other insects. They also do not hesitate to accost much larger than themselves! Male and female scarabs differ in color – which in the world of butterflies is not surprising. Few people know, however, that by the colors of their wings you can also know the time of birth of the butterfly. The spring generation is more colorful than the summer generation. This is due to the so-called polyphenism – a mechanism that allows them to better adapt to their environment. In the case of these little warriors, it’s all about better camouflage.

One of the most unique elements of our investment at 4 Wólczańska Street is a four-wall stained glass window, which is a true artistic gem. The design, created by Ms. Kamila Bienia-Borowska of the BIENIART Stained Glass Studio, depicts a delightful composition of butterflies against the background of a lavender meadow, which enlivens the green courtyard of the tenement. The stained glass window depicts a variety of Polish butterflies, both diurnal and nocturnal. One can admire such specimens as the admiral russet, with its distinctive orange-black wings, the peacock russet, known for its impressive “eyes” on its wings, the sailor’s swallowtail, whose colors allude to the sea, as well as the cress borer, cabbage leafhopper, lemon leafhopper, checkerboard pollinator and russet fritillary. These motifs are artistically set in a lavender meadow, whose vivid colors and details add depth and life to the composition. The slender lavender flowers perfectly complement the whole, emphasizing the vertical lines and creating a harmonious whole with the butterflies. The stained glass not only beautifully complements the courtyard space, but also refers to the tradition of stained glass and contemporary art. It is a one-of-a-kind decoration that combines local heritage with modern aesthetics, making it an unprecedented work on a city and perhaps even national scale. We are proud to have supported the talent of local artists, enriching our investment with such a unique project.