Shoemaker Butterfly

A denizen of the Amazonian rainforest, the shoemaker butterfly is a beautiful insect that exhibits deep black wings decorated with contrasting bright orange vertical bands and a large orange spot. Its common name may be an allusion to the fairytale "The Shoemaker and the Elves" and the ancient belief that butterflies were wood nymphs, fairies, or winged elves. The shoemaker moniker may alternatively refer to the shape of the butterfly's wings, which can appear similar to the wooden forms used by a shoemaker to create new shoes.