First Mother of Pearl Butterfly timeless tabletop art This specimen is carefully displayed

This specimen is carefully displayed in a 9"x9" frame

also known as the red speckled jewel beetle

Its gorgeous coloration is a result of microscopic scales on the wings that reflect light instead of using pigment

It is named for its similarity to the purple emperor butterfly

which serve as a warning to predators about its toxicity

First Mother of Pearl Butterfly timeless tabletop art This specimen is carefully displayedSalamis is a genus of nymphalid butterflies. They are commonly known as mother of pearls and are found in Africa. Salamis was a nymph in Greek mythology, the daughter of the river god Asopus and Metope, daughter of the Ladon, another river god. Salamis parhassus is found in the rain forests of Central Africa. This specimen is encased in a 6"x6" frame.