Butterflies and Moths

12

Wondrous

wings

Butterflies and moths have one

thing that no other insects have—

scales on their wings. Thousands

of tiny scales are delicately arranged

on the wings to give them color.

Wings carry color-coded messages

that help deter enemies and attract

mates. Wings of some butterflies

flash bright colors in the face

of danger to startle predators.

Wings of lace

Some butterflies’ wings

are plain and brown on

top. But if you catch a

glimpse of the underside,

you may see a beautiful

lace pattern.

Flashing color

Left undisturbed, the speckled

wings of this red underwing

moth blend in perfectly with

the background. However, when

it is threatened, the moth moves

its forewings forward to reveal a

bright red warning color.

When the moth flashes this fiery

red band, it confuses predators

long enough for the moth to escape.

Look for these moths resting

on willow and poplar trees.

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