Page 42 - Wonderful Creatures: Children! Have You Ever Thought ?

WONDERFUL CREATURES

that enables it to live under winter

conditions. This system consists of
several complementary features.

Before flight winter moths continuously tense the main

muscles that are connected to the wings and make their wings vib-
rate. The rapid vibrating of the wings leads to an increase in the

temperature of the insect’s thorax. As a result of this increase, the
temperature of the thorax may rise from 0oC (32oF) to 30oC

(86oF) or even more. However, this is only one of the features
that the moth needs to survive. In order to fly it is not sufficient

for the winter moth merely to increase its body temperature. That
is because the difference between the temperatures of the insect’s

body and of the atmosphere will result in loss of heat. In the same
way as a glass of hot tea cools after a while, the moth’s body will

also cool. Therefore it will not help even if the moth keeps its
wings vibrating. In order for the winter moth to fly and thus survi-

ve, another method is required to maintain the heat it has produ-
ced. This need is also met by a special structure that Allah created

in the moth’s body. Moths are covered with dense scales that
reduce heat loss. Scientists have determined after research that a

moth without scales cools twice as fast as those with scales.

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