File photo of a Magellan's
Iridescent Birdwing.[Photo: cnsphoto]
The troides magellanus, or Magellan's Iridescent Birdwing was
selected as the most beautiful butterfly in a recent web contest in
Taiwan.
The rare papilionoidae species buttergly, which is unique in
Taiwan and often looks like a "Flying Pearl", was voted number one
beautiful butterfly in an island-wide one-month-long vote that
started from November 3. The most beautiful butterfly bagged over
247,000 votes from among 3.7 million online ballots the vote had
mobilized from 23 counties and towns in Taiwan.
So far, there are only 2,000 such butterflies left in the world,
with some 1,500 habitating in Taiwan.
The troides magellanus is noted for their use of limited-view
iridescence: the yellow of the dorsal hind wings is modified by
bright blue-green iridescence which is only seen when the butterfly
is viewed at a narrow, oblique angle.
(CRI December 6, 2007)
