\nWhen I was a kid, I heard an older boy saying that moths have powder on their wings that enables them to fly. “Once that powder is rubbed off,” he continued, “the moth can’t fly anymore.” To me, this made no sense, so I didn’t believe it.<\/p>\n
\nYet, over the years, I would hear, every so often, a comment like “If you want a moth to fly away, don’t touch its wings.” I finally had to investigate the truth behind the idea.<\/p>\n
\nWell, according to ChatGPT, a moth’s wings are covered in tiny, fragile scales that may seem like powder. These scales can help with aerodynamics, so if they are rubbed off or damaged, which can happen just from touch, the moth may not be able to fly as well, or at all.<\/p>\nJack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane,<\/a> Campbell River, BC.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Self-tutoring about insects: the tutor investigates whether touching a moth’s wings can compromise its ability to fly. When I was a kid, I heard an older boy saying that moths have powder on their wings that enables them to fly. …<\/p>\n