The wings of Lepidoptera contain a matrix of living cells whose function requires appropriate temperatures. However, given their small thermal capacity, wings can overheat rapidly in the sun. Here we analyze butterfly wings across a wide range of simulated environmental conditions, and find that regions containing living cells are maintained at cooler temperatures. Diverse scale nanostructures and non-uniform cuticle thicknesses create a heterogeneous distribution of radiative cooling that selectively reduces the temperature of structures such as wing veins and androconial organs. These tissues are supplied by circulatory, neural and tracheal systems throughout the adult lifetime, indicating that the insect wing is a dynamic, living structure. Behavioral assays show that butterflies use wings to sense visible and infrared radiation, responding with specialized behaviors to prevent overheating of their wings. Our work highlights the physiological importance of wing temperature and how it is exquisitely regulated by structural and behavioral adaptations.

中文翻译：

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身体和行为适应，以防止蝴蝶的活翅过热。

鳞翅目的翅膀包含一个活细胞矩阵，其功能需要适当的温度。但是，由于它们的热容量小，机翼会在阳光下迅速过热。在这里，我们分析了广泛的模拟环境条件下的蝴蝶翅膀，发现包含活细胞的区域保持在较低的温度下。不同尺度的纳米结构和不均匀的表皮厚度会产生辐射冷却的不均匀分布，从而选择性地降低诸如机翼静脉和雄激素器官等结构的温度。这些组织在整个成年期都由循环系统，神经系统和气管系统提供，这表明昆虫的翅膀是动态的，活的结构。行为分析表明，蝴蝶使用翅膀感应可见光和红外线，以特殊的行为做出反应，以防止机翼过热。我们的工作强调了机翼温度的生理重要性，以及如何通过结构和行为适应来精确调节机翼温度。