Butterflies and Moths

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.

I’m 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