22 Nebraskaland • August-September 2024
like structures can also help the insect stay warm. On sunny
days, you might see a butterfl y basking with its wings
open, its darker pigmented wing scales soaking up the solar
radiation.
Other types of specialized scales possessed by some male
butterfl ies called androconia release provocative pheromones
for breeding. Some scales aff ect air fl ow, reducing drag, as the
insect fl ies aiding in its aerodynamic abilities. Some species'
scales are even hydrophobic — capable of shedding water
and dirt.
Images of the tip of an albino North American porcupine's quill. The cuticular "scales" seen extending away from the tips act
as barbs, embedding in the skin as the victim attempts to pull out the quill.
Some snakes have an apex-like ridge on the middle of their scales called the keel, while others are smooth. The skin from a
black rat snake as shown here has a slight keel.
