Recently, researchers in Cambridge Nano-science Centre have not just replicated these butterfly wings at the nanoscale but have shown capacity to tune their behaviour by selectively altering the nanoscale shapes. They have done this by the bottom-up approach (link), making small objects and thin films one-at-a-time.
This approach followed by researchers helps to create even more beautiful colours (see image below, click to enlarge) and aids in confirming the earlier proposed mechanisms which produce the concoction of colours on the wings of a butterfly (link to article).
Reprinted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Nature Nanotechnology (PUBLISHED ONLINE: 30 MAY 2010 | DOI: 10.1038/NNANO.2010.101), copyright 2010.