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Oxypyris mifune
("quick or sharp" "fire" "Mifune")

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Specimen #01123, 4/9/2001

Wingspan: 4 inches

Composition: 12 karat gold filled wire, black copper wire, red copper wire, steel utility blades, 23 karat gold leaf, glow in the dark plastic

Collection site: Devil's Tower, Wyoming

Comments: Yes, it glows in the dark. The enzyme fireflies use to produce light is called luciferase. Both sets of wings are actually blades -- the upper set is fire-blued and then gold leafed around the edges. Somehow this layered, braided look reminds me of a tiny samurai.

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