Butterflies are such beautiful and gentle creatures that it is simply amazing how they can exist in this world full of dangers. Our photo selection contains the most beautiful butterflies in the world - living masterpieces of nature.
10. Morpho menelaus (blue morpho Menelaus)
One of the most beautiful butterflies in the world impresses with its wings, which reach a span of 12 centimeters. But those who love to study butterflies and learn more than what is shown in photographs know that the magnificent blue color of the blue morpho is just a trick of the light. While the "underside" of the wings is painted brown and decorated with "eyes" of different sizes. This helps the insect camouflage and hide from predators such as birds, frogs and lizards.
Some Amazonian tribes consider this butterfly to be a sacred messenger of Heaven, who can convey people's wishes to the gods.
9. Protographium marcellus (zebra swallowtail butterfly)
Can you imagine a zebra that can fly? Well, it really does exist. Only it's not a real zebra with hooves and a tail, but an elegant butterfly, the coloring of which resembles this beautiful animal.
If you travel to northern America or Canada, you can expect to encounter this beautiful black and white creature.
8. Papilio palinurus (Palinurus swallowtail)
This butterfly is part of the large swallowtail family, which includes 550 different species worldwide. The emerald swallowtail, also known as the peacock swallowtail, is one of the largest and most colorful butterflies in the world.
These wonderful winged creatures are usually found in Southeast Asia and have wings with velvety green stripes. Such an interesting coloring allows the emerald swallowtail to live out its short life (up to 10 days) calmly, merging with the foliage.
7. Aglais io (Peacock eye)
Photos of the most beautiful butterflies in the world delight with bright colors, but even among them, the Peacock eye stands out with its luxurious coloring. The main background of the wings is red-brown or red-brown. But it is not so much this that attracts attention, as 4 large "eyes" with blue spots. The coloring of each butterfly depends on the temperatures that affected the chrysalis.
6. Greta oto (Glasswing Butterfly)
One of the most beautiful living creatures in the world has transparent wings. But Mother Nature created them not for beauty, but for protection from predators, which makes it very difficult for them to catch the glass butterfly. After all, only the reddish-brown edges of its wings are visible.
This is one of the few species of butterflies that is characterized by dimorphism between males and females. Females have less bright colors, as this is necessary for the continuation of the species.
However, even if a predator catches and eats a glass butterfly, it will most likely suffer acute poisoning. After all, this tiny creature feeds mainly on poisonous plants of the genus Cestrum, and toxic alkaloids accumulate in its body.
5. Parnassius apollo (Apollo butterfly)
White symbolizes tenderness and purity. Sometimes it can look very boring. However, white with rich red and black spots is a perfect combination that the Apollo butterfly proudly carries on its wings.
The central part of its body is covered with snow-white hairs, which only enhance the feeling of the thinness and fragility of this creature.
These insects are interesting not only for their appearance, but also for their defensive strategy. In the larval form, the Apollo butterfly is dark in color, and thus camouflages itself from enemies. Adult butterflies cannot use color for camouflage, and instead emit an unpleasant odor to drive away predators.
4. Pachliopta hector (Sailing Hector or Rose Hector)
In photos with the names of the most beautiful butterflies in the world, we usually notice the luxurious colors of their wings. However, in Rose Hector, the bright red abdomen is most noticeable. And the beautiful black-white-red wings are only the final part of the appearance of this unique creature, which would look great on the rarest flowers in the world.
Nature does not create anything for nothing, and the beautiful appearance of this butterfly simply screams that it is dangerous. After all, at the caterpillar stage, it feeds on plants of the Aristolochiaceae family, which contain aristolochic acid. And accumulates poison in its body.
3. Chrysiridia rhipheus (Madagascar urania)
The homeland of this amazing butterfly with luxurious flowers is, as you may have guessed, Madagascar. This insect stands out not only for its beauty, but also for its large size. Its wingspan reaches 7-9 centimeters. There are small tails on the back wings, which gives the butterfly an unusual appearance.
Like most other brightly colored butterflies, the Madagascar Urania is poisonous.
2. Diaethria (diaethria)
Each photo of the most beautiful butterflies is interesting in its own way. But you will definitely not confuse this butterfly with any other. Its unofficial name is "butterfly eighty-eight".
This is the number of white and black stripes on the lower wings of the Diaethria. The genus Diaethria includes 12 species, and all of them are decorated with a pattern in the form of 88. Although there are originals who decided to stand out and "drew" 89 for themselves.
This marked beauty lives in Peru, Brazil and Bolivia and feeds on rotten fruit.
1. Argema mittrei (Madagascar comet)
Even if you don't agree that this is the most beautiful butterfly in the world, you will certainly admit that it is the longest. After all, no other butterfly has such a luxurious tail, which reaches up to 16 centimeters in length.
Each wing, the size of an adult's palm, is decorated with beautiful "eyes". And it's not surprising, because the Madagascar comet belongs to the family of peacock eyes.
These butterflies do not eat anything at all and live off the nutrients accumulated during the caterpillar stage. Therefore, their flight is beautiful, but very short - 1-3 days.
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