Oct 12, 2023
Butterfly Magic? The blue color found in Nessaea
In nature, there are many blue-hued birds, animals, fish, and insects. However, the blue color found in the feathers of birds, wings of butterflies, shells, and other natural structures is primarily a result of structural coloration. It's an optical effect created by the interference and scattering of light waves due to microstructures like grooves, scales, and more, rather than intrinsic pigments. Naturally occurring blue pigments are quite rare. In the case of the Nessaea butterfly, the blue color on its wings comes from a pigment called pterobilin, a type of bile pigment. This is an exceptional occurrence of a blue pigment within the Lepidoptera order of insects
