Butterfly Colors and Biomimicry

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Introduction

National Middle School Science Standards

Life Science, Physical Science, Engineering Design

Key Terms

butterfly, coloration, adaptation, camouflage, nanostructure , biomimicry

Key Concepts

Coloration as adaptation to hide or show
Butterfly color adaptations
Pigmented vs. structural coloration
Nanostructure of butterfly wings
Technology used to study coloration

Resource Types

Videos and Webcasts

Butterfly Adaptations - How They Come by Their Colors with Smithsonian Experts Eric Wenzel and J.P. Hurtado Padilla on Smithsonian Science How

Posters and Worksheets

Compilation Butterfly Wing Scales The Next Gen Scientist

Online Activities

Butterfly Pavilion Photos Flickr
Biomimicry Global Design Challenge Toolbox Biomimicry Institute
Butterflies and Moths of North America BAMONA
Featured Collection: What Makes Things Blue? Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Science Literacy Resources

Middle School Level

When is a Blue Bird Not Blue? Smithsonian Insider

High School Level

Butterflies and Beyond Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Five Things To Know About Biomimicry STEMvisions Blog
Scientists Identify the Genes That Paint Butterfly Wings Smithsonian Magazine
A New Color Printing Technique Borrows from Bird Feathers Smithsonian Magazine
How Biomimicry is Inspiring Human Innovation Smithsonian Magazine

Advanced Reading Level

An Eye Gene Colors Butterfly Wings Red Smithsonian Insider
This Dance is Taken: Hundreds of Male Frog Species Change Colors Around Mating Time AAAS Eureka Alert!
Scientists Edit Butterfly Wing Spots and Stripes Smithsonian Newsdesk
Heliconius Butterfly Genome Explains Wing Pattern Diversity Smithsonian Insider
Colorful Caterpillar Chemists Smithsonian Insider

Subject Guides

Entomology Subject Guide Smithsonian Libraries

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

The Butterfly Coloration teaching resources support students in meeting the following middle school NGSS Performance Expectations:

Life Science

MS-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.

MS-LS4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

MS-LS4-4 Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals' probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

Physical Science

MS-PS4 Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

Engineering Design

MS-ETS1 Engineering Design

MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Resource Type