Hobbies And Interests
Inability to Fly
Touching a butterfly can hamper its ability to fly. When you touch the butterfly, you can remove the delicate dust (scales) on its wings. The wings are made of four layers of very fine membranes that work together like a symphony. The layers are so thin, that just touching the butterfly's wing with your finger can cause too much dust to come off. Removing scales can weaken the wings and make it impossible for the insect to fly. However, sometimes the butterfly can still fly when only a small amount of scales are removed. It's better to be on the safe side and avoid touching butterflies altogether.
Startles the Insect
Touching a butterfly may seem welcomed, but making contact can also startle the insect. This can cause the butterfly to attempt to get away and sometimes it can still fly if you didn't remove too much dust. The insect can go into shock and die or eventually die because it cannot get away from predators.
Color on Your Hands
If you touch a butterfly you may also notice color on your hands. The color is the first layer (scales) of his wings, which comes off easily. When you remove the scales, oil from your fingers is transferred onto the insect, which weights down his wings. This is another reason why butterflies might not fly again if you touch them.
Torn Wing
Touching a butterfly can also result in a torn wing. The insect's wings are so delicate and paper thin that a tear can easily happen when too much pressure is applied. This can happen, even if you don't mean it. Sometimes a butterfly may land on your finger and this is fine because the butterfly's torso is touching your finger, rather than its wings. Just avoid touching the wings, no matter how tempting.