Vivid dark blue metalmark butterfly with a uniform spray of light-blue/green rays radiating from the dark middle of each wing. Some pink dots and accents are visible near the thorax.

Man with glasses in gray-green shirt standing at the edge of forest road with a camera around his neck. A blue-rayed metalmark butterfly is resting on the tip of the fingers on his raised right hand.

Another stunner! #Lyropteryx apollonia, the #Apollo #metalmark or blue-rayed metalmark #Riodinidae is a rare #butterfly species found in tropical #rainforests of South America, at an elevation of about 200–600 m (660–1,970 ft). To my delight, on occasion they allowed handling. #Ecuador