Before flight winter moths continuously tense the
main muscles that are connected to the wings and
make their wings vibrate. 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 0 o C (32 o F) to 30 o C (86 o F) 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 be-
cause 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 survive, another method is required to maintain the heat it
has produced. This need is also met by a special structure that Allah cre-
ated 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.
These are some of the mechanisms in a winter moth that protect it from
cold. The features mentioned above must have existed since this
moth species came into being. Otherwise, the moth would
have died of cold and this species would be extinct. One
does not need to reflect at great length to understand
that it is not a coincidence that only those species in-
W O N D E R F U L C R E A T U R E S
33