I just swatted a moth that was in my kitchen and noticed that there was, what I will call dust, that came off the wings. Is this actually dust or something else? Does this have a purpose?
In: Biology
Moth and butterfly wings are covered in tiny scales. This is actually where the group gets its scientific name, Lepidoptera, lepis (scale), and pteron (wing) in Greek. The scales cover the wings and body of the insect, and help keep them warm, and give the insect colouring, which can be used for things like display, camouflage, or mimicking another animal.
The scales brush off at the slightest touch, which is why you get “dusty” from holding moths and butterflies. If you rub their wings, you can brush all the scales off a section, and the wing underneath is clear, like a fly or wasp wing. [Some moths have clear windows in their wings already](https://www.google.com/search?q=clearwing+moth&sxsrf=ALeKk00bhao30L-OsZ3bR9KojnXSTTuMmA:1627186961885&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjt_OHmr_3xAhXUrJ4KHfDWD4AQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1649&bih=899), many of these clear-winged moths are trying to mimic wasps so they look scary and other animals don’t try to eat them.
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