amnhnyc:

How do invertebrates survive the heat?

While they generally flourish in the warmth of summer, they can suffer or even perish during heat waves, especially when coupled with dry spells or drought. When soil moisture declines, ponds dry out, and stream water levels drop, some invertebrates aestivate (become dormant), burrowing deeper into the soil or pond mud to wait for rain. Others, like many butterflies, become active earlier in the morning, avoiding the heat of the day. 

– via A Seasonal Guide to New York City’s Invertebrates

Monarch butterfly © Kenneth Dwain Harrelson