24
Getting together
Have you ever noticed a pair of butterflies or moths
flying in circles around one another? Flying like this
allows them to smell each other. By smelling special
body scents called pheromones (fer-o-mones), they
can identify a mate of the right species. If the smell is
right, the couple will mate. Finding the right mate
is called courting.
Iām over here!
Male moths release smells by thrusting out
pencil hairs from their bodies. These hairs
scatter the pheromones on the breeze,
where females will smell them.
Mud-puddling
Male butterflies gather on
riverbanks to drink water
that is rich in mineral
salts. These salts help
butterflies make
special smells to
attract a mate.
In hot climates, mud-puddling
is a common sight.
Pheromones are usually
present in tiny scent
scales on wings.
Some male moths have large,
feathery antennae that can
smell a female up to 3 miles
(5 km) away!
US_024-025_Getting_together.indd 24 11/10/17 3:34 pm