On the thin edge of a leaf, Melinaea ludovica has landed with a grace that borders on invisibility. This butterfly, a discreet member of the Nymphalidae family, is a master of camouflage: its translucent wings edged with brown and orange patterns allow it to blend into the undergrowth like a peaceful shadow.

Its slow, measured, almost floating flight gives the impression of a butterfly with nothing to prove. Yet it plays its cards close to its chest: this species belongs to a mimetic complex, meaning it shares its patterns with other toxic butterflies. This visual subterfuge, designed to deceive predators, is a fine example of Müllerian mimicry, a collective survival strategy.

Observing it suspended between light and matter, we can sense that Melinaea's strength lies not in its brilliance, but in its deliberate discretion, which invites us to slow down and look at what seems ordinary in a different way. A Zen butterfly, in perfect resonance with the peaceful atmosphere of the greenhouse.