Winged Art
A butterfly has four wings, two forewings and two hindwings. They are attached to the second and third thoracic segments. Strong muscles in the thorax move the wings up and down in a figure-eight pattern during flight.
When the fully-grown adult butterfly emerges from its pupa, its delicate wings are crinkled, wet, and uninflated. The butterfly hangs upside-down and pumps blood into the wings to inflate them. It must then wait for the wings to dry before it can fly. When the fragile wings fray or are torn, they do not repair themselves.
During flight, the forewing and hindwing are held together and function as one wing. At rest, butterflies hold their wings vertically...while moths do so horizontally. (Source--"Enchanted Learning")
Another HOT and HUMID Philly day!
May your day be filled with winged beauty!!<:))
Uploaded on July 18, 2012