The glasswing butterfly (Greta oto) is a brush-footed butterfly known for its transparent wings, an adaptation that makes it difficult for predators to track in flight. The tissue between the veins is largely free of the coloured scales found on most butterflies.[1]
Appearance
Unlike opaque-winged species, the glasswing minimises light reflection through a fine, irregular nanostructure on the wing surface. This anti-reflective coating transmits a high proportion of incident light, lending the wings their characteristic clarity.[2]
Behavior
Adults are strong fliers and undertake seasonal migrations across forest corridors. Males form leks and feed on the nectar of Lantana flowers, from which they also acquire pyrrolizidine alkaloids used in chemical defence.