Living portions of butterfly wings prevent overheating

January 31, 2020
Infrared photographs of butterflies, where brightness correlates with the capability of radiative cooling
Infrared photographs of butterflies, where brightness correlates with the capability of radiative cooling. Credit: Nanfang Yu and Cheng-Chia Tsai/Columbia Engineering
A recent study from MCZ Faculty-Curator of Lepidoptera, Naomi Pierce, and collaborators, looked at tissues in butterfly wings that are supplied by circulatory, neural and tracheal systems, indicating that the wing is a dynamic, living structure. Behavioral assays show that butterflies use wings to sense visible and infrared radiation, responding with specialized behaviors to prevent overheating of their wings. The study is published in Nature Communications and highlighted by Science Friday, The Economist, and others. 
See also: Entomology