How thin, delicate butterfly wings keep from overheating
Living parts such as veins have protective structures that keep them cooler than dead scales
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/020520_EG_butterfly-wing_feat.jpg?fit=1028%2C579&ssl=1)
Living parts of butterfly wings — including veins and pheromone-releasing scent patches — have special structures that help those areas release more heat than surrounding scales. Brighter areas in these infrared images correspond to higher heat release.
Nanfang Yu and Cheng-Chia Tsai