The magnificent Morpho butterfly is a jewel of the rainforest canopy.

The upper wings of the adult male are of an iridescent blue that appears to flash with every wing beat, reflecting the light and making the butterfly easy to spot in the rainforest. The Morpho´s underwings resemble the colors of foliage -- mottled browns, grays, blacks and reds. The colors of the female are more subdued.

The Morpho's coloring is a built-in defense mechanism. At night, the butterfly folds its wings up, so only the mottled underside is visible. This helps conceal it from predators. By day, the bobbing iridescent flashes of blue visible as the Morpho flies makes it hard for predators to track.

The Morpho´s optical engineering has fascinated observers for generations. Today, researchers are attempting to reproduce the dazzling blue of its wings to create counterfeit-proof colors for credit cards and currency. This butterfly may become most famous for its power to change the face of money.