A Description of the Parts of Butterfly Wings

Wing Sections

• The butterfly has four wings: two forewings and two hindwings. The forewing and hindwing is split into four sections. Attached to the thorax is the basal, which is the inner part of the wing. The next section is the discal, followed by the postdiscal. The outer part of the wing is the submarginal.

Structure

• Each wing has two membrane layers; tubular veins nourish these layers. The pattern of the vein differs in each subspecies; it is one way to identify a classification of butterfly. Thousands of scales and hairs cover the wings. These scales are outgrowths of the body wall that overlap each other. A single cell attaches each scale to the wing surface. Some scales are rectangular, while others are tear-drop shaped. Certain male butterfly species have scent scales that secrete a scent believed to attract a female. A damaged wing cannot repair itself.

Movement

• The muscles in the thorax move the wings in a figure-eight pattern so the butterfly can fly. The butterfly holds the forewing and hindwing together so they work as one big wing. Some large species fly with a combination of flapping and gliding. Examples of butterflies that do this are the Pierid and Papilonid.

Color

• The scales covering the wing membrane give the butterfly its color. Each side of a butterfly's wings has a different pattern. The butterfly uses color for a number of reasons. Some are colored like their surroundings so they blend into the habitat. Brightly colored butterflies warn their predators they are bad-tasting. Other butterflies fool predators into believing they're bigger than they actually are. One of the most important reasons that some species of butterflies are dark is to absorb heat -- a butterfly can only fly if its body temperature is above 86 degrees. Dark colored species will absorb heat from the sun for warmth.

Other Uses

• Some species of butterfly -- for example the Hamadryas Crackers and Heliconius Longwings -- can use their wings as a hearing organ. On the underside of the wing is a funnel-shaped sac covered by a thin membrane. The sac vibrates when high frequency sound is present and sends a message to the butterfly's brain.