UV Light and Butterfly Reproduction

This is the fourth story in a series of photo essays about UF/IFAS Extension and the impactful work Extension agents and specialist contribute to communities and the state of Florida.


Ana Carvalho is a graduate student studying entomology at the University of Florida (UF) and researcher for the Florida Museum of Natural History’s (FLMNH) McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity. Emily Ellis is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Florida Museum and specializes in Lepidoptera, winged-insects such as moths and butterflies. Carvalho and Ellis are producing images of butterfly wing patterns using a high-tech camera that blocks out all visible and infrared light, only allowing UV light to pass through. This imaging allows humans to see the world through the eyes of butterflies in order to better understand the mating process. Check out this photo essay story created by Jaycee Thomas and Morgan Stemple, University of Florida students, to learn more about Ellis and Carvalhos’ work


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Click here to visit the Adobe Spark page about Carvalho and Ellis and their work.


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Click here for the downloadable version of this photo essay story.

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