Butterfly wing scale ridges. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the ridges on a scale from the wing of a butterfly. All butterflies and moths have transparent scales on their wings, which have these tiny ridges on them. These ridges break up and reflect light, giving the wings their shimmering iridescent appearance. This specimen is from a Morpho butterfly. Magnification: x10,000 when printed at 10 centimetres across.