Morpho Butterflies

These iridescent butterflies are of the genus Morpho. They come in shimmering green and blue colors. Found mostly in Mexico, Central and South America, their colors are not a result of pigmentation, but are microscopic scales on their wings that reflect light at successive layers. The structure of their wing scales has been studied as a model in the development of fabrics, dye-free paints, and anti-counterfeit technology used in currency.