How to Tell a Butterfly from a Moth Pollinators in Your Garden What causes shaking in monarch butterflies? Butterflies vibrate their wings for an array of reasons: to regulate their temperature, to ward off predators, or to strengthen their wings. We learn so much about our environment when critters come 10 Painted Lady Butterfly Facts for Kids Insect Lore 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 Monarch Butterfly Garden Facebook