Why do moths have eyes on their wings. Some butterflies and moths have their eyespots hidden on their hindwings and will flash predators a startling glimpse of them. Here are the reasons why moths have dust on their wings. Warmth because moths are mostly active during the night they need to stay warm once the sun sets down. Colouration of the wings.
The dust or the scales provide a layer that helps the moth to stay warm in cold temperatures. Whether theyre trying to look toxic confuse predators or blend into their environment its. However many day flying moths are brightly coloured particularly if they are toxic. 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 process.
Moths tend to have thick hairy bodies and more earth tone coloured wings. If the scales do assist flight the effect is subtle. Why do they have dust on their wings. Alessandro giusti curator of lepidoptera at the museum says many species eyespots have an interesting series of circles and in the middle there is a white part which almost mimics an eye reflecting light.
Other species including most of those that make up the large family of moths known as geometridae rest with their wings held open and hindwings on full display 1 above the mochaalthough a small group of geometrid moths referred to as thorns rest with their wings held either closed or partially shut vertically above their heads 2 above early thorn. Nocturnal moths on the other hand are usually plain brown grey white or black and often with obscuring patterns of zigzags or swirls which help camouflage them from predators as they rest during the day. Moths have very long proboscis or tongues which they use to suck nectar or other. When perched their wings lay flat.