Butterfly Wings & Their Function The Art of Ecology 10 Things You May Not Know about Butterflies Nature for my Soul Why do monarch butterflies shiver? They do this to increase their body temperature by warming their muscles so they can take flight., Photo Courtesy of Community Member Julie Bthanks Julie! Why do Butterflies have colorful wings? Science ShowMe Ever notice a monarch butterfly vibrating its wings? This isn't just random behaviorit's a survival strategy called Shivering. Especially when temperatures drop, monarchs vibrate their wings to generate heat and warm Butterflies: Warming Up