The glasswing butterfly (Greta oto) is noted for its unique transparent wings. It's commonly found from Central to South America. In Spanish, the butterfly is named "espejitos," which means "little mirrors."
Although its wings may look fragile, the butterfly can actually carry up to 40 times its own weight. The transparency of the wings helps the butterfly hide from predators. The adults have a number of interesting behaviors, such as lekking when male butterflies gather for competitive mating displays.
Many national parks in Costa Rica are working on conservation of the glasswing butterfly, including Guanacaste National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
Below is a gallery of six beautiful glasswing butterfly photos. Enjoy!
(Cover photo via VCG)
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