BLUE MORPHO BUTTERFLY
Morpho peleides

 

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION: Like all butterflies, Morphos have tiny, overlapping scales covering their wings. In Blue Morphos, the scales on their wing tops have tiny ridges that reflect blue light. So even though the butterflies are not coloured blue, their wing tops appear to be a very brilliant, iridescent blue!

In contrast, the underside of their wings is brown, visible when the butterflies are at rest and their wings are folded up. The drab colour helps them blend in with their surroundings and hide from enemies like birds and large insects. The adults of these stunning butterflies feed on rotting fruit or fermenting fungi. They have a wingspan of 90–120mm.