Minneapolis Institute of Art

Blue Butterflies and Red Larva, Blue Spines

After Maria Sibylla Merian; Engraver: Joseph Mulder

Date

c. 1705–17

Medium

Hand-colored etching and engraving

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

In January 1701 Merian wrote, I set out into the forest to see if I could discover anything; I found this elegant red blossom on a tree; neither the name nor the properties of this tree are known to the inhabitants of this country. The butterfly is Caligo idomeneus (Linneaus), called an Owl Butterfly, because the large eye-spots on the undersides of the wings resembles the head of an owl when the wings are open. The larva illustrated is not that of an owl butterfly, but an unidentified species of silk moth. Merian also included a wasp, noting that wasps are found everywhere in Suriname, even in the houses and in the fields…[They] sting any man or animal which comes near them and disturbs their activities. Netherlands, Europe

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