insect · GBIF taxon 5133433
Blue Morpho Butterfly
Morpho peleidesAlso known as Peleides Blue Morpho, Common Morpho, The Emperor
Blue morpho butterflies dazzle onlookers with their brilliant, metallic blue wings, a stunning visual effect created by microscopic scales that reflect light rather than using pigment. When resting, they fold their wings to reveal a dull brown underside adorned with large, deceptive eyespots that mimic predators. These active fliers spend their days patrolling the forest understory, feeding on fermenting juices from fallen fruit and tree sap.
DiurnalTropicalColorful
- diet
- Fermenting fruit juice, tree sap, wet mud, and decomposing organic matter
- family
- Nymphalidae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and collection for the specimen trade
- life Span
- Approximately 115 days from egg to adult, with adults living 2 to 3 weeks
NE
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Spotting them: Look for flashes of bright blue along rainforest rivers and sunny trail edges.
- Attracting adults: Set out overripe, fermenting bananas or papayas in a shaded spot to draw them down.
- Observation: Watch for them resting with closed wings, revealing their cryptic brown eyespots.