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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Fermenting fruit
- Tree sap
- Mineral-rich mud
Predators
- Jacamars
- Rufous-tailed jacamar
- Large spiders
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, deforestation, and collection for the specimen trade
HabitatsTropical rainforests, wet deciduous forests, and forest edges
Life spanApproximately 115 days from egg to adult, with adults living 2 to 3 weeks
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyNymphalidae
- SpeciesMorpho peleides
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Frequent Companion 
Close Relative (c) Thomaz de Carvalho Callado, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomaz de Carvalho Callado · cc-byClose Relative
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