Why Do Moths And Butterflies Have Dust On Their Wings

Colors are often used in courtship so that male and female butterflies recognize each other as the correct species.

Why do moths and butterflies have dust on their wings. They form patterns of bright colors sometimes with hidden ultraviolet pattern that are used as signals to the other sex in attraction for mating. The scales provide an insulating layer to help the moth stay warm. The scales have at least four functions not necessarily on the same butterfly species. They have tiny scales on their wings.

A butterfly uses scales for thermoregulation as well but a moth tends to have thicker scale layers. Butterflies shed scales throughout their lives. Butterflies lose scales just by doing the things butterflies do. The powder on the wings of moths and butterflies is really a layer of any colored scales which overlap each other almost like the tiles on a roof.

One of the most obvious differences between butterflies and moths is their resting wing position. The colors of butterfly and moth wings may serve several purposes. If the scales do assist flight the effect is subtle. Bright colors may also serve to warn birds or other predators that a particular butterfly such as a monarch or a pipevine swallowtail is bad tasting.

Butterflies and moths dont actually need the scales to fly but their wings are very delicate and if you handle them enough to rub the scales off youll probably also damage the wings in the. 1their wings when resting left. Moths rest with their wings open whereas butterflies tend to rest with their wings closed. Without the ability to heat up in the suns rays a moth needs extra insulation.

The scales create bright colors that might signal a mate or they act as camouflage allowing butterflies and moths to blend into their surroundings. The scales probably have several purposes. However many day flying moths are brightly coloured particularly if they are toxic. The truth is a butterfly sheds scales throughout its lifetime.

They appear to be dust when they get rubbed off. The name of the scientific order that both belong to is lepidoptera it literally means scale wing. Nectaring mating and flying. The dust on butterflies and moths wings isnt dust at all but tiny scales.

Its possible they play a role in thermoregulation or modifying the airflow over the wing. Most butterflies have bright colours on their wings. If you touch a butterfly gently it will lose some scales but rarely enough to prevent it from flying. Colouration of the wings.

Because a moth is most active at night he need a little help to stay warm while the suns down. However many butterflies sun bake with their wings open.