Butterflies are already doing a lot of heavy lifting in the “being cool” department. They undergo complete metamorphosis, come in an absurd variety of colors and patterns, and there are more than 17,500 known species scattered around the world. 

The specimens are pressed between two clear panes of glass, giving them a floating appearance and allowing you to see both sides of the wings. This is particularly rad because the underside of a butterfly can look dramatically different from the top. 

About the Blue Morpho: 

This could very well be the top dog of all of the blue butterflies. The Blue Morpho (Morpho didius) is a stunning butterfly known for its bright, shiny blue wings. You’ll find it in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America and it’s hard to miss when it flies by. These are framed between two glass panes, which not only give you a great view of the trademark shiny blue front but also a very interesting backside. You may have noticed its back looks like it’s covered in tiny eyeballs, and like many things in nature, there’s a reason for that. The markings are meant to imitate eyes to ward off predators. After all, who would want to make a meal of a creature with 14 eyes?

What’s really cool about the Blue Morpho is that its wings aren’t actually blue. The color doesn’t come from pigment but from how light reflects off tiny, pyramid-shaped scales on the back of its wings. Depending on the angle you look from, the color can change, which makes it even more amazing.

As with all natural specimens, expect slight variations, imperfections, and the occasional bit of weirdness. That's part of what makes them cool.