Invisible lives: Butterflies with 'little mirrors'

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From scary and bizarre deep sea fish to venomous amphibians with the most vibrant colors; from luminous algae to flowers that smell like rotted meat, the creativity of nature exceeds any science fiction that human beings can come up with.

For many animals, its strange appearance is a way to scare off its enemies, but for many others, it is a way to fool the enemies. Among these intriguing creatures who are experts in camouflage, there is a special group of transparent animals. In the series “Invisible lives,” we will explore these animals that exemplify the magic of nature.

A glasswing butterfly under the sun. /VCG Photo

A first glance at a glasswing butterfly will amaze the most imaginative person. The transparent wings resemble two tiny windows and clearly reveal everything behind them. An interesting fact about the glasswing butterfly is that its Spanish name, “Espejitos,” literally translates to “little mirrors.”

The glasswing butterfly is mostly found in rainforests from Central to South America. The tropical environment provides them with the best nutrition. They feed on toxic plants and consume the toxins which give them a foul taste to avoid predators.

General information about the glasswing butterfly. /CGTN Photo

Most butterflies use their glamorously patterned wings to attract mates, but for the glasswing butterflies, the wings are their protection. Concealing themselves from predatory birds seems to be the most important task. The wings reflect so little light that no birds will see a twinkle on them.

The transparent wings reveal the leaf the butterfly is standing on. /VCG Photo

A 2015 study revealed the secret of those reflection-proof wings. The tiny pillar-like structures on the transparent wings are completely irregular in size and shape, and therefore substantially result in less reflection. Scientists have successfully reproduced that effect and applied it to productions of low-reflection surfaces, for example, screens for mobile phones and computers.

Male glasswing butterflies. /VCG Photo

While the glasswing butterflies use their wings as protection, they choose a more primitive way to fight for their mating rights. They competitively display themselves by forming leks, where males gather and compete to attract the females.

Two glasswing butterflies mating. /VCG Photo

Fragile as it seems, the glasswing butterfly can carry nearly 40 times its own weight. It also flies fast with a speed up to 13 kilometers per hour, which allows it to migrate long distances.

Being invisible is the best way to survive in the wild. Since it is very difficult for human or predators to spot the glasswing butterfly in the natural environment, this kind of butterfly is not scarce at all. It can be spotted all year-round in the humid and warm forests in Costa Rica.