Moth wings have a soft look because they are covered with sensitive hairs. These multifunctional hairs provide moths with flying stability, temperature regulation, and a sense of taste. Yes, moths taste with their wings, but a new study indicates that moths smell with their wings.
The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, was conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany. The researchers found that tobacco hawkmoths (Manduca sexta) have receptor proteins in their wings that detect both smells and tastes.
Examination with an electron microscope showed that some of the hairs are porous. Further analysis showed that the wings have genes for detecting scents. They can detect the odor of organic compounds present in the leaves of nightshade plants, where they prefer to lay their eggs.
Knowing that moths smell with their wings reminds us that the more we learn about God’s creation, the more we are amazed at the diversity of living things and the way each has been given what it needs to survive.
— Roland Earnst © 2026
Reference: popsci.com