Blue Butterflies and Red Larva, Blue Spines, c. 1705-1717, After Maria Sibylla Merian; Engraver: Joseph Mulder, German, 1647-1717, 13 x 9 5/8 in. ( x cm) (sheet), Hand-colored etching and engraving, Netherlands, 18th century, In January 1701 Merian wrote, 'I set out into the forest to see if I could discover anything; I found this elegant red blossom on a tree; neither the name nor the properties of this tree are known to the inhabitants of this country.' The butterfly is Caligo idomeneus (Linneaus), called an Owl Butterfly, because the large eye-spots on the undersides of the wings

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Size: 3465px × 4606px
Location:
Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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