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Fight for light
The speckled wood butterfly
likes to bask in a sunny spot
on the woodland floor. If
another butterfly takes this
spot, the two fly around and
around, bumping into each
other many times. The fight
does not last long, and the
butterfly that was there first
usually wins the spiral battle.
Fluttering and gliding
Depending on the shape of their wings, butterflies and
moths make different patterns as they fly. If their wings
are long and thin they fly fast and straight, but if they
have large wide wings they just flutter about. Some
butterflies glide on currents of air—just one flap
and they can sail through the sky for a long time.
Light landing
Holding its
wings out wide
like a parachute,
a butterfly gently
drops before
landing on its legs.
When the wings come
down, the butterfly
moves upward.
The next wing
beat will pull
the male down
below the female
once again. He
repeats this about
four times.
Speedy flight
The wings of a jet fighter plane look just like
those of a moth. Both have long thin wings
that point backward for speedy flight. This
death’s-head hawk-moth is one of the fastest
moths in the world.
A frightened butterfly
or moth can fly over 30
miles (48 km) an hour!
US_016-017_Fluttering_and_gliding.indd 17 11/10/17 3:33 pm
