Page 73 - Allah's Artistry in Colour

Harun Yahya - Adnan Oktar 71

stances. The by-products of a colouring substance called pteridine, for ex-
ample, create the pink, white, and yellow colours that are commonly seen in
butterflies. Melanin, which is a very common colouring substance, exists in
the black spots in the wings. Interestingly, the colours in the wings of but-
terflies are not always as they seem to be. For example, green scales are in re-
ality a mixture of black and yellow scales. Recent research con-
ducted on butterfly wings has demonstrated that pigments are
synthesised in the scales and that the enzymes necessary for
melanin production lie in the upper skin of the scales.
Colouring substances are not the only cause of these high-
ly volatile colours in butterflies. The structure and the order of the
scales on the wings of the butterfly cause various tricks of light, such
as reflection, refraction, and finally the formation of colours of dazzling
beauty. For instance, Stilpnotio Salicis butterflies have semi-transparent
scales, which contain bubbles. Although there is no colouring
substance in these scales, the light passing through the scales
give the butterfly a satin-like appearance.
The surface of the scales on the Argynnis butterfly's wings is
unbelievably soft, which creates silvery reflections. In some butter-
flies, the different arrangement of two overlapping rows of scales
may also create different reflections of light, for example, causing a
butterfly to look blue instead of black or brown.