Malachite Butterfly

An interesting fact about butterflies in general is that the powdery residue left behind on your fingers when you touch them is actually scales which cover a butterfly’s wings. Butterflies lose scales nectaring on plants, mating, flying and evading predators. If you touch a butterfly gently, it will lose some scales, but rarely enough to stop it from flying.

The scales strengthen and stabilize the wings. So if a butterfly loses a lot of scales, the underlying membrane may become more prone to tears, and THAT, of course, could affect its ability to fly. So be gentle.