There are over 18,000 species of butterflies around the world, each with their own unique and beautiful wing patterns and colors. When it comes to choosing the butterfly with the prettiest wings, there are many contenders. Some of the most stunning butterflies have wings that shimmer with metallic colors like blues, greens and violets. Others have wings decorated with graphic patterns and eyespots. Choosing the butterfly with the prettiest wings ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Butterflies with Metallic Colored Wings
Some of the butterflies regarded as having the most beautiful wings are those with metallic-looking scales that shine and shimmer. The microscopic scales covering a butterfly’s wings reflect light to produce the color effects. Here are some top contenders with metallic wings:
Morpho Butterflies
Morpho butterflies are found in Central and South America. Many species of Morpho have bright iridescent blue wings that flash and shine in the sunlight. This striking blue comes from the microscopic scales on their wings which reflect light. Some popular Morpho species include:
– The Blue Morpho has brilliant blue wings that seem to glow. This specie can have a wingspan up to 8 inches wide.
– The Green Morpho butterfly has emerald green wings with edges trimmed in black and white spots.
– Morpho didius butterfly has a more purple iridescence on its wings.
Blue Mountain Swallowtail
The Blue Mountain Swallowtail is found in Papua New Guinea. Its wings are a stunning iridescent blue-green color with black stripes. The bright coloring comes from light reflection off the scales on its wings.
Peacock Butterflies
Peacock butterflies found in Asia have wings decorated with “eyespots” and an iridescent metallic shine. The most well-known is the Common Peacock with wings of reddish-orange outlined in black and adorned with dramatic eyespots. The wings also have an iridescent blue-green sheen.
Red Lacewing
The Red Lacewing butterfly’s wings have a brilliant metallic copper color. This specie is found in tropical forests of Central and South America. Its wings shimmer in the light with an iridescent copper hue.
Butterflies with Colorful Patterned Wings
Other butterflies regarded as having incredibly beautiful wings have colorful, graphic patterns created by contrasting designs, spots, and stripes. Here are some top picks with artful patterned wings:
Painted Lady
Found around the world, the Painted Lady butterfly has intricate orange and black patterned forewings resembling stained glass. The hindwings have bold blue, black, and white spots and stripes.
Longwing Butterflies
Longwing butterflies have elongated forewings. Species such as the Zebra Longwing have vivid striped black and yellow patterned wings. Other longwings like the Julia have radiant iridescent turquoise blue wings with black veins outlined in white.
Swallowtail Butterflies
Swallowtail butterflies are named for their wings which end in wing shaped tails. Many species have yellow and black striped patterned wings including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and Spicebush Swallowtail.
Monarch Butterfly
The Monarch butterfly has bright orange wings with thick black veins and white spots along the edges. The male Monarchs have scent glands on their hindwings. This familiar butterfly migrates incredible distances.
Cattleheart Butterfly
The Cattleheart butterfly has unique leathery forewings that are dark brownish-black with bold white spots and patches. They are found in South America and Trinidad.
Owl Butterflies
Owl butterflies are found in Central and South America. Their wings are shaped and colored to resemble the face of an owl, with large “eyespots”. The Caligo owl butterflies have strikingly patterned wings in browns, yellows, blues and greens.
Butterflies With Transparent Wings
While transparent wings may not seem that pretty, some of these delicate butterflies have a subtle beauty. Here are a few species with clear wings:
Glasswing Butterfly
The aptly named Glasswing butterfly has transparent wings outlined in black with just a small section colored white or yellow. They are found in Central America and northern parts of South America. The see-through wings provide camouflage in vegetation.
Grayling Butterfly
Grayling butterflies appear throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They have mostly transparent wings with some gray, brown or orange spots and blotches. Different species have varying amounts of opaque sections on their wings.
Clearwing Swallowtail
The tropical Clearwing Swallowtail butterfly has transparent wings with black veins and black edges outlined in white. It is found in rainforests of Central and South America. The transparent wings help provide camouflage.
Rare and Unique Butterfly Wings
Some unusual butterflies have wings that are prized for their rarity or unique beauty:
Blue Morpho
– The Blue Morpho butterfly has already been mentioned for its stunning blue iridescent wings. But the rare Moriche Morpho subspecies is particularly remarkable. The Moriche Morpho is found only in the rainforests of Venezuela. Its wings appear an even more brilliant silvery blue due to microscopic ridges on the wing scales.
Agrias Butterflies
– The colorful Agrias butterflies are found in the Neotropical region. Many species have iridescent bluish wings outlined in black. But the rarer Agrias amydon variety has exceptionally beautiful metallic blue forewings.
Golden Birdwing
– The Golden Birdwing butterfly found in the rainforests of India and southeast Asia is the second largest butterfly in the world, with a wingspan up to 16 inches. The female has huge golden yellow and black patterned wings.
Comet Moth
– The Comet moth of Madagascar has wings of bright crimson red and yellow with unique long swallow-like tails. Their wing anatomy is unusual compared to regular butterflies.
Sri Lankan Birdwing
– The Ceylon Birdwing found in Sri Lanka is the country’s largest butterfly. Females have dark brown wings decorated with beautiful swirling yellow and pink markings.
Purple Emperor
– The Purple Emperor butterfly inhabits Europe and Asia. Males have deep violet iridescent wings with white bands—a rare coloring for butterflies. The females have more subdued brown wings.
Choosing the Prettiest Butterfly Wings
With so many beautiful butterflies to choose from, picking the one with the prettiest wings is highly subjective. Factors that contribute to a butterfly’s wing beauty include:
– Vivid coloration – Striking and intense colors like shimmery metallics, pure whites or deep blacks attract the eye. Mixing complementary colors also appeals.
– Patterns – Intricate and clever patterns, spots, stripes and textures add visual interest. Mimicking patterns like an owl’s face also intrigues.
– Iridescence – Wings that shine, shimmer, and seem to change colors depending on lighting and angles add extra beauty. Iridescent blues, violets and greens especially dazzle.
– Symmetry – Balanced wings with similar left and right sides appeals to the eye.
– Rare traits – Unusual wing attributes found on rare butterflies also contribute to their beauty and perceived value.
While personal preference plays a key role, many butterfly experts consider the Blue Morpho, and specifically the Moriche Morpho variety, to have the most visually striking wings. Their brilliant blue iridescence and substantial size make them truly spectacular. The Blue Morpho’s stunning wings seem to glow, shimmer, and change shades based on light and angles. Their awe-inspiring wings dazzle anyone lucky enough to view them fluttering through the rainforest.
Conclusion
The butterfly regarded as having the prettiest wings comes down to the Blue Morpho. Found in the rainforests of Central and South America, the Blue Morpho’s iridescent blue wings seem to glow and shimmer brightly. While other butterflies also have magnificent wings, like those decorated in colorful patterns, metallic sheens, and unique markings, the Blue Morpho’s oversized, radiant blue wings edged in black really stand out. Their ability to reflect light and display different hues of blue iridescence as they flutter make them exceptionally striking. When it comes to having the prettiest wings, the Blue Morpho steals the show. Its size, vivid coloring, iridescent sheen, and rarity combine to make it a favorite of lepidopterists and butterfly fans alike. There are many beautifully winged butterflies, but the Blue Morpho emerges as the butterfly with the overall prettiest wings.
