ASPCA Animaland: Ask Azula: Latest Question

What happens when you touch a butterfly’s wing? —Ruth

What a beautiful question, Ruth—my heart is all a-flutter!

Butterfly wings are very fragile. They can tear easily and can’t be fixed, so it’s best not to touch them.

And did you know that a butterfly’s wings have tiny scales on them that help her to fly? Even if you were to touch a butterfly’s wing very gently, the scales would fall off and look like fine dust on your fingertips.

And butterflies need their scales, trust me! Not only to keep them flyin’, but to keep them stylin’! The scales also function to form the amazing, interesting patterns on their wings, after all!

MORE QUESTIONS:

Dogs:
- What should I do if I see an animal being abused?
- If your dog runs away, should you spank him on the bottom?
- Why do cats and dogs fight whenever they see each other?
- Animal Cops Q&A with ASPCA Special Agent Kristi Adams
- My dog is the worst shedder ever! What can I do?
- How do dogs learn to swim?
- Why do beagles bark so much more than other breeds?
- Why do dogs poop worms?
- What kind of dogs love to swim?
- Do dogs poop every day and every night?
- Why do dogs eat poop?
- How many babies can a dog have?
- Is it true that dogs see only in black and white?
- Why do dogs bark?
- Why does my dog always sniff everything?
- What's the most popular dog in the world?
- How old is is my dog in people years?
- Why does my dog get scared and go into the tube whenever it rains?
- Why do dogs have black lips?
- Why does my dog drool?
- What kind of toys do dogs like?
- Why do dogs throw up and then eat it?
- How old is the oldest dog?
- Why do dogs always lick their noses?
- Why do dogs eat so fast?
- Can dogs smell odors better than people?

Cats:
- Why do cats and dogs fight whenever they see each other?
- Animal Cops Q&A with ASPCA Special Agent Kristi Adams
- Are cats female if their eyes are blue?
- Can cats see computer screens and TV screens?
- Why does my cat, Tiger Lily, drool when I pet her?
- Why do cats lick themselves to get clean?
- Why do cats’ pupils change from big to small?
- Why do cats sleep so much?
- Do cats lose their baby teeth like humans do?
- Why do cats purr?
- How do you tell if your kitty is a boy or girl?
- How do you compare a cat's age to a person's age?
- Can you train cats?
- Are cats bad for our health?
- Why do cats bury their poop?
- Do girl cats have eggs?
- Why are cats cleaner than dogs?
- Exactly how many animals in shelters are put to sleep every year because of overcrowding?
- Is declawing bad for a cat?

Other Pets:
- Do ferrets make good pets?
- Do guinea pigs eat their babies’ poop?
- Can guinea pigs have babies with gerbils?
- How long do goldfish live to be?
- Why do ferrets stink?
- Why do ferrets grunt?
- Why are guinea pigs called guinea pigs?
- My mother says that guinea pigs are nasty and like rats—is that true?
- I really like rodents. Can you tell me more about them?
- Do fish drink water?
- My hamster is mean and bites anyone who gets near him. What can I do?
- Is spinach poisonous to hamsters?
- Is it illegal to buy or sell turtles?
- How far can a hamster run on his wheel each night?
- What do you do with a turtle with a broken shell?
- My brother’s goat just had babies. They have blue eyes. Is that unusual? - Why do rabbit cages stink?
- Can bunnies eat the same thing as people?
- What’s the difference between a rabbit and a hare?
- How do spiders make their thread? Do they ever run out?
- Why can’t fish breathe on land?
- I want a rat or mouse when I’m older, but I do not want to clean the cage. What do I do?
- Can a tarantula kill a human?
- Why do my gerbils chew the paper on their cage floor? ?

Birds:
- How many times a day do wild ducks poop?
- How can I tell if a parakeet is a girl or a boy?
- Do birds poop while they are sleeping?
- How long can birds fly before they get tired?
- Why do birds stand on one leg?
- What kind of bird are you, Azula?
- Does a hen lay eggs when she’s molting?
- Why does my cockatiel wag his tail?
- What are some fun ways to play with your pet bird?
- Can you give me some facts about great horned owls?
- Can you give me some facts about great horned owls?
- Why does my pet bird put his food in his water?
- How come I never see baby pigeons?

Horses:
- Could you please tell me why horses stamp their hind feet?
- Do horses change when the seasons change Do any animals eat horses?
- I just started horseback riding lessons. How do I know if the horse I'm riding trusts me ?
- Why do horses spook with a rider on their back?
- I have a very strong desire to learn how to ride a horse. How can I convince my parents that I am old and responsible enough?
- My horses are scared to death of the woods around their pasture. They both came from wooded areas. There are a few rabbits, but there had to have been rabbits where they came from, too. Why could they be so scared, and what could help them?
- Is it cruel for the horse to do dressage And does the horse enjoy it?
- Are there kinds of illnesses that make horses crazy?
- Why do people slaughter horses?
- Do horses need their teeth brushed?
- Why do horses see from the side?
- Why do horses sleep standing up?
- Why do horses have such big nostrils?
- Special Horse Q & A with Dr. Weiss

Wildlife:
- Why do alligators eat meat and not vegetables?
- Is there such an animal as a cabbit?
- What is a zoologist?
- Why do some frogs have teeth?
- Why do giraffes have those little pointy things on top of their heads?
- How do dolphins drink water?
- Do lions talk to one another?
- Are kangaroos mammals?
- How many teeth do sharks have?
- How did sea apples get their name and what do they look like?
- Do fish fart?
- Why do frogs croak?
- Do rhinos have horns or tusks?
- Why do wolves have such bad attitudes?
- Do chipmunks make good pets?
- Do ducks sneeze?
- What do gorillas eat?
- Do porcupines shoot their quills?
- Are koalas really bears?
- Do tigers have stripes under their fur?
- How big can rats grow?
- What animal has the biggest ears?
- Do starfish have arms or legs?
- Do any animals other than bats sleep upside down?
- Are white tigers rare?
- How long does a tiger live?
- What animal has the biggest eyeballs?
- What is a baby koala called?
- Why do frogs jump?
- What is a lynx?
- Why do zebras have stripes?
- Do sharks sleep?
- Where do giant squid live?
- Can you tell me something interesting about camels?
- What do camels eat?
- Do deer eat bugs?
- Why do rattlesnakes rattle?
- What do manatees eat?
- Where do raccoons go in the winter?
- Do polar bears go to sleep for the winter?
- At what age do polar bears leave their mothers?
- How big can a hermit crab get?
- Why do sharks attack people?
- Why do frogs have so many babies and elephants don’t?
- How many teeth do elephants have?
- Do monkeys really have 99.9% of the same DNA that people do?
- Why do some squirrels fly?
- Why do animals poop so much?
- Can racoons fart?
- Where do starfish go in the winter?
- Are koala bears endangered?
- How many babies do hippos have at one time?
- What are the top animal issues?
- How do sand dollars swim or move?
- What happens when you touch a butterfly’s wing? NEW!