Blue morpho butterfly resting on leaf
A morpho butterfly is one of over 29 accepted species and 147 accepted subspecies of butterflies in the genus Morpho. They are neotropical butterflies found mostly in South America, Mexico, and Central America. Morphos range in wingspan from the (3-in) M. rhodopteron to the imposing 20-cm (8-in) sunset morpho, M. hecuba. The name morpho, meaning changed or modified. The Peleides Blue Morpho, Common Morpho, or The Emperor (Morpho peleides) is an iridescent tropical butterfly found in Mexico, Central America, northern South America, Paraguay, and Trinidad. Some authorities believe that peleides is a subspecies of Morpho helenor. The brilliant blue color in the butterfly's wings is caused by the diffraction of the light from millions of tiny scales on its wings. It uses this to frighten away predators, by flashing its wings rapidly. The wingspan of the Blue Morpho butterfly ranges from –20 cm (– in). The entire Blue Morpho butterfly lifecycle, from egg to adult is only 115 days. Morpho peleides butterflies live in the rainforests of South America, and can be found in Mexico and Central America. The larvae of Morpho peleides butterflies are occasional cannibals. These caterpillars are red-brown with patches of bright green. Morpho peleides butterflies stick together in groups to deter their predators, a form of mobbing behavior.
Size: 3606px × 3606px
Location: RHS Wisley Surrey UK
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: america, blue, butterfly, central, common, emperor, helenor, iridescent, mexico, morpho, paraguay, peleides, rainforest, south, trinidad, tropical
