Western Pygmy Blue Butterfly
The Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis) is about the size of the fingernail on my pinky finger. Its wingspan is 3/4 of an inch. The tiny metallic-looking dots along the hind wing serve a protective coloration purpose in that they can reflect rays of light back to any potential predator, and break up a 'target' image.
I learned the effectiveness of this several years ago while trying to shoot an image through my macro lens. One of the spots caught a ray of sun that was reflected back through the lens to my eye. I still remember how painful it was!
Interestingly, the Pygmy Blue has no blue color on its under wing area and very little on the upper wing.
Western Pygmy Blue Butterfly
The Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis) is about the size of the fingernail on my pinky finger. Its wingspan is 3/4 of an inch. The tiny metallic-looking dots along the hind wing serve a protective coloration purpose in that they can reflect rays of light back to any potential predator, and break up a 'target' image.
I learned the effectiveness of this several years ago while trying to shoot an image through my macro lens. One of the spots caught a ray of sun that was reflected back through the lens to my eye. I still remember how painful it was!
Interestingly, the Pygmy Blue has no blue color on its under wing area and very little on the upper wing.