The scales, which are arranged in a tile-like pattern, are responsible for the color of butterfly wings. Each scale is covered with pigment, which is why the wings of diurnal butterflies are so colorful.
In some species of butterflies and moths, however, the color of the wings is produced not by the reflection of the wave from the pigment-covered scales, but by its refraction and interference. This phenomenon gives the wings their characteristic iridescent color and is related to the special structure of the scale covering, which can only be observed under a microscope.
