Why do butterflies have bright wings?
Bright wings help butterflies send messages to other animals and to each other.
Pip’s answer
- Bright wings help butterflies send messages to other animals and to each other.
- Some bright colors say, "Blech! I taste yucky, so please leave me alone!"
- Butterflies also use their colors to find butterfly friends just like them.
- Wow-ee, their wings are covered in tiny colorful scales, like teeny tiles!
For grown-ups
Butterfly wings are covered in thousands of tiny scales. Their colors help butterflies recognize and attract mates, and some bright colors warn predators that the butterfly tastes bad or is poisonous. Other butterflies have patterns, like eyespots, that startle or confuse birds.
Ask your child: What message do you think a bright orange butterfly is sending?
More questions kids ask
- 🐛Why do caterpillars turn into butterflies?
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- 🦎Why do chameleons change color?
- 🐱Why do cats purr?
- 🐝Why do bees visit flowers?
- 🐦How do birds fly?
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