Which butterfly is known for having transparent wings that help it blend into the forest?

The glasswing butterfly is known for transparent wings that help it blend into the forest.

The name usually refers to Greta oto, a brush-footed butterfly found in Central and South America. Large sections of its wings are transparent because the wing scales are sparse or absent, leaving the clear membrane visible. Dark borders and veins outline the otherwise glass-like panels.

Transparency can make a flying insect harder for predators to detect against changing backgrounds. It does not make the entire insect invisible: the body, wing veins, and dark margins remain conspicuous at close range. The glasswing’s appearance is therefore camouflage rather than true invisibility.

Greta oto larvae feed on plants in the nightshade family, including Cestrum species. The caterpillars acquire chemical compounds from their food, and adults are reported to be distasteful to some predators. The butterfly is also notable for long-distance movement within tropical habitats, where it may gather in groups.