Insect Pinning Class: Blue-Banded Morpho

Species: Morpho achilles Location: San Francisco, 766 Valencia St. It’s a radiant butterfly on one side and a Lovecraftian horror on the other, and the fun part is that neither side is really telling the whole truth. The enigmatic and unmistakable Morpho achilles is somewhat of a deception wrapped up in a fluttering package. If you’re into optical illusions and summoning images of the Old Ones into the minds of birds, lizards, and reptiles, then boy do we have a class for you. Here’s a bit about them to explain our ramblings above. Probably the first thing you notice about the Morpho achilles is the shiny blue bands that run down the center of both wings. It’s kind of hard not to. While you may be thinking to yourself, “that’s the bluest thing I have ever seen,” it’s actually not blue at all. The blue comes from structural coloration, meaning tiny scales on their wings reflect light rather than pigment. Funny how something so “blue” turns out to just be a trick of light. Speaking of tricks, the Morpho achilles is also really good at fooling would-be predators using the undersides of its wings. Dotted along the underside, tiny eyeball patterns cover the surface. This somewhat unsettling adaptation helps them blend into tree bark while also scaring predators away. After all, who would want to eat something that looks like it’s straight out of the Necronomicon? As always, there’s more we could touch upon when it comes to these shimmering blue eldritch horrors of the rainforest, but we’d be here all day. If you want to go deeper into the mysterious butterfly, grab your spot before they vanish into the depths (more Lovecraft references…) About the class: In this hands-on, two-hour class, you will learn the full process of butterfly pinning, from hydration to pinning and preservation. Our expert instructor will guide you step by step, and you will use a Paxton Gate spreading kit to transform your butterfly into a preserved specimen you will get to take home and show off. Inside each kit, you will receive: 1 Box of entomology pins 1 Anchor pin 4 Strips vellum paper Forceps Pinning board Instruction pamphlet Important Details: Classes will be held at 766 Valencia St., San Francisco. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours before the class to receive store credit, redeemable for merchandise or future classes. Pre-registration is required, as materials must be prepared for each student and space is very limited. Please arrive promptly at the start time. Students are encouraged to bring lunch or snacks.