Scale (insect anatomy) and enable the insect to escape. (Forsyth 1992:12) Thomas Eisner tested spiderwebs' effectiveness by dropping various insects onto the webs. Moths were consistently able to escape, and all left impact spots where scales had stuck to the web. Eisner found these spots to be common. (Eisner 2003:218-220) Scales also help increase the lift to drag ratio in gliding flight. Successive close-ups of the scales of a Peacock wing Scale (insect anatomy) The presence of scales on the wings of Lepidoptera, comprising moths and butterflies, characterises this order of insects. The name is derived from Ancient Greek λεπίδος (scale) and πτερόν
Nephele comma The larvae feed on the leaves of "Carissa" species. Nephele comma Nephele comma is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is very common throughout the Ethiopian Region, including Madagascar. The length of the forewings is 32–39 mm and the wingspan is 76–86 mm. It is a very variable species. The body and forewings are dark olive green to reddish-brown and to light ochreous-brown. The dorsum of the abdomen is broadly of the same colour as the thorax. There are three large quadrate blackish lateral spots. The forewings have irregular dark transverse bands which are usually much better developed in