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Malachite Butterfly

Malachite Butterfly line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Malachite Butterfly illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Malachite Butterfly was completed on 6.02.09. This is the first foreshortened drawing of a butterfly I've done - usually butterflies are drawn straight from the side with wings up or straight on from the back. I came across the Malachite Butterfly while researching a project for Scholastic Books last fall. After then I had decided I wanted to create a drawing of these gorgeous creatures. The illustration is based on a photo by A.J. Haverkamp.

Information about the Malachite Butterfly:

The Malachite Butterfly is a neotropical insect native from the southern tips of Texas and Floride through Central America into northern parts of South America. It's wingspan is about 3.5-4 inches. It is considered a 'brush-footed' butterfly which means it is part of a group of butterflies that have very small forelegs which are not very practical for walking. The name comes from the mineral 'malachite' because the green of the wings closely matched the color of the mineral. The Malachite Butterfly prefers feeding on overripe fruit such but is especially fond of citrus fruits. It will also feed on flower nectar and occasionally on carrion.