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7 Most Beautiful Butterflies In The World

7 Most Beautiful Butterflies In The World

Image: Unsplash

04 November 2024 Butterflies are winged insects belonging to the insect order Lepidoptera. Here are 7 of the most beautiful butterflies from across the world.

Image: Unsplash

Red Tip Butterfly: Found in parts of Africa, the majestic butterfly is easily identified by the red colour in the tip of its wings.

Image: Wikipedia

Monarch Butterfly: The orange and black livery of Monarch Butterfly makes it instantly recognisable. It migrates thousands of kilometres from Central America to Mexico.

Image: Unsplash

Sunset Moth: Considered one of the most impressive and appealing butterflies, Sunset Moth is originally from Madagascar.

Image: Unsplash

Blue Morpho Butterfly: Found in the tropical regions of Central and South America, the Blue Morpho Butterfly is renowned for its 'aqua blue' wings.

Image: Wikimedia

Image: Wikimedia

Apollo Butterfly: This unique butterfly belongs to the family Papilionidae. It is usually observed in Europe and Asia, in the high-altitude meadows. Leafwing Butterfly: As the name suggests, the butterfly is known for its strong resemblance to a dead leaf when its wings are folded.

Image: Wikimedia

Paper Kite Butterfly: Found in Southeast Asia, Paper Kite Butterfly has a wingspan of 12 to 14 cm.

Image: Unsplash

Image: Reuters 

Image: Unsplash

Image: Unsplash

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Spotlight: The Blue Morpho

Gleaming in the air, the iridescent blue morpho protects itself from predators using the power of light.

Native to the rainforests of Mexico, Central America and South America, this bright blue butterfly has a short but stunning life.

It is thought that the colour helps the males to mark their territories, and acts as a defence against predators.

The blue morpho is often one of the species featured in Sensational Butterflies, an exhibition of live insects in the Museum's tropical butterfly house.

Butterfly expert Luke Brown says the species is one of the most striking in the exhibition.

He explains, 'The dazzling blue morpho is undoubtedly a favourite butterfly with visitors because of its incredible colour, its size and its constant activity. You'll nearly always see them on the wing - which is quite a sight.'

Structural colour

Several different species of butterfly are referred to as 'blue morphos'. The butterflies that often feature in the exhibition are Morpho peleides.

A blue morpho on a leaf

Blue morphos enjoy feasting on mango, kiwi and lychee © trancedrumer/Shutterstock.Com 

Their wings are formed of up to a million tiny overlapping scales, arranged in a diamond pattern.

These scales are made up of several thin layers that reflect light waves again and again, reinforcing each other to create an intense colour.

Colour created like this, by the physical interactions of light with tiny structures, is known as structural colour.

This is different to colour created by pigments - materials that absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others.

Only male blue morphos display the characteristic shimmering blue wings over the entire surface. The females are brown with smaller areas of blue interspersed.

Luke says, 'The blue morpho makes my work a little easier. Its emergence success rate (when a butterfly safely breaks out of its chrysalis and survives) is nearly 100% and it flies in virtually all weather conditions, so even on a dull rainy day this showy butterfly will be dancing about mingling with visitors.'

Dark beginnings

The blue morpho's beauty belies a darker aspect of its life cycle - the larvae have a tendency to eat each other.

A caterpillar of the Morpho peleides species

Caterpillars of the Morpho peleides species are cannibalistic, possibly to help control populations 

It is not clear why the larvae do this, but scientists have suggested that it might be a way to control populations naturally when resources are limited, or because they have few natural predators.

Luke explains, 'We had blue morphos breeding in the butterfly house one year. We were very excited about all of the tiny tufted caterpillars that appeared, but sadly we only ended up with one very large caterpillar - it had eaten all the others.'

This cannibalistic behaviour does not continue into adulthood - once emerged, the butterflies feed together on fallen fruits.

In the Museum butterfly house, mango, kiwi, lychee and banana are provided for the butterflies. In the wild, they also enjoy feasting on tree sap and rotting animal flesh.


The Verge's Favorite Holiday Gifts Under $100

  • Gift Guide
  • Our budget-friendly gift guide has it all, from buzzy earbuds and drift-free gamepads to the coolest lightsaber knockoff there is.

    If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

    Colorful photograph of gifts that cost less than $100 arranged in a vivid scene. Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeColorful photograph of gifts that cost less than $100 arranged in a vivid scene. Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

    Gifts can add up shockingly fast, especially when they're outfitted with advanced sensors and powerful AI chips from the likes of AMD, Nvidia, and Apple. But not everything we cover at The Verge will leave you strapped for cash around the holidays.

    Related
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  • These days, there are plenty of handy gadgets available for $50 or less, from adorable USB-C charging cords to retro step trackers that won't hit you with a deluge of notifications as soon as you wake up. However, if you're willing to spend a little more — say, up to $100 or so — the possibilities really open up. Nothing's splashy budget earbuds can often be found for as little as $79.99, for instance, as can KBDcraft's Lego-like mechanical keyboard. There are also a number of non-tech gifts worth tucking under the Christmas tree, a selection of which we've rounded up below, alongside other Verge favorites.

    So take the price filters below for a spin and keep an eye out in the days ahead for our guides to the best gifts under $25 and $50.

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    price range:

    Under $25$25 to $50$50 to $75$75 to $100Ugreen Uno USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W

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    AmazonWalmartCasioLego Insect Collection

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    AmazonRough TradeNala SinephroESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger

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    Urban OutfittersHuckberryCamp SnapFitbit Inspire 3

    The lightweight Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great gift for someone looking to dip their toes into wearables. The throwback fitness band is an affordable way to add heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and sleep / workout tracking to your wrist. It's basic, sure, but how many other wearables let you wear them as a clip and last up to 10 days on a single charge?Price: $69.95

    AmazonBest Buy WalmartStanley Classic Legendary Bottle

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    AmazonBackcountryStanleyTwelve South PlugBug with Find My (50W)

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    AmazonBest Buy Twelve SouthFluxx

    It will come as no surprise that Fluxx is a game in which everything, even the rules, is constantly in flux. It's quick to learn and allows for up to six players, but choose your companions wisely. The randomness of it all often makes it feel more like an activity than a traditional card game built on strategy, meaning diehard tabletoppers would do well to keep their ambitions at bay. Price: $19.95+

    AmazonBarnes & NobleLooney LabsGoliath Power Saber

    The Goliath Power Saber is the first self-retracting and extending lightsaber — err, "power blade" — you can buy. The clever light-up toy uses a long screw to automatically raise a series of telescoping tubes, which safely collapse when pressed against something. That means your kid can channel their inner Obi-Wan without injuring others (fingers crossed). Price: $50+

    AmazonWalmartTargetAmazon Echo Show 5 (third-gen)

    Amazon's third-gen Echo Show 5 is the ultimate bedside alarm clock. The 5.5-inch smart display is small enough that it won't commandeer your entire nightstand, yet it still lets you easily catch up on the news, check the weather, and tap into whatever white noise lulls you to sleep best. Coqui frog sounds, anyone? Price: $89.99

    AmazonBest Buy TargetBodum 12-cup Programmable Coffee Maker

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    Crate & BarrelMoMA Design StoreBodumTribit StormBox Micro 2

    Tribit's Stormbox Micro 2 has become a cycling mainstay in my household — and not just during the summer. That's because the bassy Bluetooth speaker features IP67 weatherproofing and a handlebar-ready silicone strap, allowing you to blast "Espresso" without having to risk your safety on the road with a pair of in-ear headphones. Price: $50.99+

    AmazonTribitCarhartt Knit Cuffed Beanie

    Carhartt's Knit Cuffed Beanie is to the head what Converse's Chuck Taylors are to your feet. The acrylic beanie dons a classic one-size-fits-all look, and it's available in different colors so your giftee will always be able to add a touch of flair to their wardrobe when they want to stand out. Price: $19.99+

    AmazonCarharttDick's Sporting GoodsAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023)

    If you turn to Amazon Prime for most of your streaming needs, then the latest Fire TV Stick 4K Max has you covered. It's loaded with solid specs for the price, including Wi-Fi 6E compatibility, broad HDR support, and a new "ambient experience" that showcases artwork when idle. Plus, it retails for a mere $10 more than the standard model, making the upgrade an easy choice. Price: $39.99+

    AmazonBest Buy TargetGuliKit KK3 Pro Controller

    Stick drift is the worst. Luckily, GuliKit's new KK3 Pro Controller offers a remedy in the form of Hall effect sticks, which don't succumb to the drifting issues that often plague Joy-Cons. The versatile Bluetooth gamepad also features rearward slots for up to four detachable back paddles, a 1,000Hz polling rate, and support for a variety of platforms — including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and PC. Price: $59.99

    AmazonField Notes "Birds and Trees of North America" edition

    You don't have to be a self-proclaimed "birder" to appreciate Field Notes' latest collection of ruled memo books. Each three-piece set is a gorgeous homage to vagabond ornithologist Rex Brasher (1869–1960), who spent most of his life painting more than 1,000 species and subspecies of North American birds — including the Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher pictured front and center here. Price: $14.95

    Acme Fine GoodsField NotesThe Gentleman StationerRyobi 18V One Plus Performance Hand Vacuum Kit

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    The Home DepotRyobiKBDcraft Adam SE mechanical keyboard

    Know someone who can't get enough Lego or Minecraft? The Adam Shito edition tweaks KBDcraft's original 60 percent model from a couple years back, resulting in a brick-ified mechanical keyboard that offers improved proportions, greater structural strength, and quicker assembly. Now, let's just hope you know your giftee's preferred keyboard layout. Price: $79.99

    KBDcraftLeatherman Skeletool CX multitool

    Leatherman's sleek Skeletool CX is all about delivering on the essentials. The highlight of the foldable multitool is undoubtedly its 25-year warranty and 154CM steel blade, though you also get a comfortable set of pliers, a Phillips screwdriver, a wire cutter, and several other basics that make it a valuable asset to have around the house or on the go. Price: $89.95+

    AmazonLeathermanCabela'sChomChom Roller

    The ChomChom Roller is the kind of gimmicky-looking tool people like to knock, at least until they try it for themselves. The clever gadget is a surprisingly effective way to remove unwanted pet hair from rugs and furniture, saving you from having to stockpile lint rollers just because your fur baby has a soft spot for posting up on the sectional. Price: $23.99+

    AmazonChewyAstro Bot

    Astro Bot places Sony's newest mascot into a refreshing 3D platformer, one that sees the titular robot visiting a series of visually stunning worlds and using a trove of tools familiar to the genre. Some, including us, are calling it Game of the Year material given how inventive and fresh it feels — which isn't easy to achieve for a game rooted in '90s-era gameplay tropes.Price: $59+

    AmazonBest Buy WalmartTrail of the Lost

    In Andrea Lankford's engrossing nonfiction narrative, Trail of the Lost, the Pacific Crest Trail is as pivotal a player as the three missing hikers the book centers on. Lankford's prior experience as a seasoned park ranger allows her to paint a nuanced portrait of the 2,650-mile trek, as does her meticulous research and interviews with those involved with the initial search and rescue efforts.Price: $16.99+

    AmazonWalmartBarnes & NobleLoop Experience 2 earplugs

    Regardless of what the hesher next door tells you, no concert is worth blowing out your eardrums. The Loop Experience 2 are a cheap way to cut back on unwanted decibels, as they offer a universal fit and a noise reduction rating of 12dB. The discreet earplugs are also available in an array of stylish colors, including a few seasonal shades to usher in the fall. Price: $34.95

    AmazonLoopLogitech G309 Lightspeed

    There's a lot to love about the Logitech G309, an $80 gaming mouse that trades RGB lighting for pure practicality. The lightweight, dual-mode wireless mouse is the least expensive option that's compatible with Logitech's Powerplay mousepad, yet it still packs the same Hero 25K sensor and hybrid optomechanical switches found on the company's more premium offerings.Price: $69.99+

    AmazonBest Buy B&H Photo




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