If you touch a butterfly's wings, it can't fly anymore. Fact or myth?

Question

If you touch a butterfly's wings, it can't fly anymore. Fact or myth?

Answer 1

It's a myth.

However, the scale covering of the wings is indeed very important for butterflies and moths, so by removing the scales (for example, by touching them too much) we're not doing them any service.

Consider the following:

1) Scales give butterflies and moths their coloration, which is important both to hide from predators (cryptic coloration) and to attract mates (bright colors, spot patterns, etc)

2) Wings without scales also are hydrodynamically different, so although flying is still possible, it may become harder for the animal.

3) For many moths, the structure and arrangement of the scales are also very important in terms of sound production. The wing scales of nocturnal moths help them fly silently, thus helping them hide from predators.

If they live long enough, many butterflies and moths end up losing many of their scales, so it's a natural process after all. But it's good to teach kids how not to harm them :-)

Answer 2

to an extent, butterfly's and moths have scales on their wings and thorax if you handle them and rub their wings too much then they might not fly as well as before, if you take off way too many scales they wont be able to fly. if you limit the holding of the bugs and be careful of their wings then they will most likely be ok.

Answer 3

Myth i used to catch butterflies as a kid and they could always fly after i let them free unless you squeeze them or break them obviously.  

Answer 4

That's a myth (just like that other one that says that if you put salt on a bird's tail it can't fly).

Some parents say that to their children because while simply touching a butterfly's wings doesn't damage it, children aren't very careful and can brake its wings.

Also, some moths have some kind of sharp dust in their wing that can be harmfull if children touch the moth's wings and then rub their eyes.