VIEW ON NATURE
WINGS OF INSPIRATION

                                                                                                        By:  Stephen L. Wendt

Everyone loves a secret, especially a secret of the forest.  And one of the most intriguing is the wonder of the butterfly and moth wing.  Think delicate strength, form and function, dazzling color.

Butterflies and moths have large wings relative to their lightweight bodies. This helps them them fly longer and in erratic, fluttering patterns that confound predators. On the upstroke, their wings “clap” together and then slightly bend, capturing air pockets that advantageously lift them quicker than expected.

Their wings are sturdy for being so thin.  The strength comes from a hardened protein, chitin, a common molecule in insect exoskeletons and even human fingernails.  Regarding durability, look no further than the annual 3,000-mile monarch butterfly migration or the perfect condition of these wings displayed in 100+ year collections.

Butterflies typically have vividly colored wings that they close vertically over their bodies when resting; moth’s often more dull-colored wings spread open while resting.  Taxonomically, they both belong to the order of winged insects known as Lepidoptera, or “scaled-wing”, which refers to the hundreds of thousands of miniscule, overlapping scales that cover their wings like shingles.  We see the scales as “dust” that rubs off when the wings are mishandled.

Thes scales are Nature’s magic.  They help regulate metabolic heat, flight, and appearance.  The colors in the wings come from pigments in the scales and the structure of the scales themselves.  The scales' nanostructure affects how light refracts and reflects off them, including iridescence.

As an artist, I’m fascinated by the expansive palette and patterns of wing colors.  But a closer look shows each scale is only a single color -- either red, yellow, black or white --while some colors, including green and blue, are created by light refracting (bending) on the scaled wings.  So, what we enjoy is created through the combination or blend of the pigments across thousands of spectral scales enhanced by how the light dances on them!

Besides beauty, the colored wings also serve other purposes. They help butterflies and moths find mates, camouflage within their surroundings, defend themselves by mimicking menacing animals, or serve as a warning about their toxicity, such as the beautiful orange, black and white monarch butterfly.

The truly amazing transformation of caterpillars to butterflies has been celebrated in mythologies and folklore across many cultures.  In ancient Greece, Aristotle named the butterfly psyche, the Greek word for soul; Psyche is the Greek goddess of the soul with butterfly wings.

Ancient Aztecs believed butterflies transported warriors’ souls who died in battle and women who perished in childbirth to their resting place. Legend has it that Monarch butterflies are the souls of reincarnated children returning year after year.

Irish folklore also links butterflies to humans as “…  the souls of the dead waiting to pass through Purgatory”. This belief was so strong in the 1600s, it was prohibited to kill white butterflies thought to be the souls of dead children.

So, let’s enjoy this Irish blessing from an unknown author singing praise to the amazing butterfly wings:

 

May the wings of a butterfly kiss the sun,
And find your shoulder to light on
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

 

 


For More Nature Stories

The ENDEAVOR News Magazine


 

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The ENDEAVOR News Magazine.   Unless otherwise noted, photographs are courtesy of the Annandale Chamber of Commerce photographic archive, Wikipedia, and private collections with all rights reserved.

(Copyright © 2012 Annandale Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.  (Photographs & images, on this page, and on this website, are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites.)


Painted Lady Butterfly, Page County, VA. Most widespread butterfly in US.
Images by the Author

 

Tiger Swallowtail, Fairfax County. Virginia State butterfly.

 

Lo Moth, Loudon County.  Named in Greek mythology Lo is one of the mortal lovers of Zeus.

 

Question Mark Butterfly, Fairfax County
Named for white question mark marking on the underwing

Admiral Butterfly, McLean, VA
Symbolizes spiritual awakening and renewal

 

Photo credit:  Stephen L. Wendt with all rights reserved.
(Copyright © 2012 Annandale Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.  (Photographs & images, on this page, and on this website, are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites.)

 

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