Some species look completely different if viewed from the top or bottom sides of the wings and are included in more than one section. The metallic blue Morpho species (M. rhetenor) stands out as the most iridescence of all. There are also numerous other morpho species, which number 29 in total, including the brown, green and incredibly rare white butterflies. Blue morphos, like other butterflies, also have two clubbed antennas, two fore wings and two hind wings, six legs and three body segments—the head, thorax and abdomen. We’ll learn more about the blue morpho’s life further down the page. Humans most commonly see morphos in clearings and along streams where their bright blue wings are most visible. As its common name implies, the blue morpho butterfly’s wings are bright blue, edged with black. Humans provide a direct threat to this spectacular creature because their beauty attracts artists and collectors from all over the globe who wish to capture and display them. (A genus is a group of very closely-related species.). The changes they undergo during their life cycle is called metamorphosis. The Blue Morpho butterfly has vivid blue wings that are edged with black. Blue is actually an extremely rare color in nature. Blue Morpho Butterfly Wings Are Not Actually Blue! The Blue Morpho butterfly is a tropical butterfly which is seen in South and Central America. See the positive change our work is making around the world. Blue morphos are visible to pilots flying over the rainforest. Butterfly Morpho Wings. oppokm. A rare Blue Morpho butterfly, share for good luck . Male morphos are highly territorial and will chase away other males. Out of all the butterfly species that we display throughout the season, the blue morpho is the favorite of our guests. The butterfly is very beautiful and thereby attracts collectors and artists who wish to capture them and/or display them. Not all Morphos are iridescent, but all have eyespots. Find out about more rainforest animals here. The blue morpho is not actually blue, it’s color comes from the structure of the scales on the wing. The green chrysalis hangs from a plant. Butterfly sanctuaries and farms develop butterflies for business use. Many morpho butterflies are colored in metallic, shimmering shades of blues and greens. The Blue Morpho butterfly has vivid blue wings that are edged with black. The undersides of the blue morpho’s wings are a dull brown, with eyespots (ocelli) and other gray, black, and red markings. Blue morpho butterflies are a highly popular yet rare specimen due to their brilliant colors. The Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is one of thirty species of butterfly in the subfamily Morphinae. Males are territorial and will chase any would-be rivals. This butterfly is often featured in museums and zoos having butterfly houses or butterfly rainforests in the United States. The wings and six legs are attached to the thorax. Amber Phantom butterflys are noted for their rounded, transparent wings. The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Blue Morpho Butterfly may be found (but is not limited to). As its common name implies, the blue morpho butterfly’s wings are bright blue, edged with black. But like all butterflies, adult morphos were plant-chomping caterpillars as youngsters. Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Morphos’ eyes are thought to be highly sensitive to UV light. (It’s completely free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we’ll never share your details.). The Blue Morpho isn’t the only butterfly of its kind. Learn More ». Don’t be deceived; those blue wings aren’t just for show! Blue morphos taste fruit with sensors on their legs, and they "taste-smell" the air with their antennae, which serve as a combined tongue and nose. Blue morpho eggs are very small, and are laid on a leaf. 9 6 0. I took the above picture at a nature preserve in Costa Rica. The blue morpho’s entire lifespan lasts only 115 days, which means most of their time is spent eating and reproducing. The blue morpho is among the largest butterflies in the world, with wings spanning from five to eight inches. From the egg hatches a caterpillar. Morphos will come down to the rainforest floor to feed, and will often fly into clearings to warm themselves in the bright sunlight. They can also be spotted near streams. There is also the Eastern Tailed blue butterfly. Size. Swallowtails are large butterflies with ornamental tails. So, when the light hits the wings, it is refracted against the scales and comes off as blue. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Genus: Morpho Species: peleides, amathonte, granadensis The order Lepidoptera is a monophyletic group characterized by bodies covered by flattened hairs and colorful, shingle-like covered wings (Resh 2010). How big is a blue morpho butterfly? The Menelaus Blue Morpho butterfly is an iridescent species of butterfly which is predominantly found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. This they do via a long, coiled mouthpart known as a ‘proboscis’, which unrolls to allows them to sip fluids: just like a drinking straw. Blue morphos, like all butterflies, taste with sensors on their legs and taste-smell the air with their antennae. The underside of the morpho’s wings, on the other hand, is a dull brown color with many eyespots, providing camouflage against predators such as birds and insects when its wings are closed. Butterfly Butterflies. They seem shiny and metallic. 3 2 1. [2] The beauty of the butterfly and the unique transformation cycle are the most obvious characteristics of the blue morpho butterfly. Like (almost) all butterflies, there are four stages to a blue morpho’s development: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and imago (adult). The owl butterfly has enormous eyespots that resemble an owl’s eyes. Blue Mophos grow to be approximately 5 - 6 inches wide. Blue Morphos, like all other butterflies, have three main body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. The blue morpho butterfly- named for its resplendent turquoise wings- lives in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. News and facts about animals, natural history and science. You can find information about other rainforest animals here: Discover more amazing rainforest insects here: Blue morphos have a characteristically slow, wobbling, flight. The Blue Morpho Butterfly! Blue morphos spend from 3 to 4 weeks in this form. Title : Blue Morpho Butterfly Category: Butterfly Blue Morpho Butterfly Facts, Scientific name Blue Morpho Butterfly is Morpho menelaus. The Blue Morpho is a species of Latin American butterflies famous for the bright blue sheen on their wings. Blue Morphos drink the juices of rotting fruit, tree sap, decomposing animals and fungi. This page contains blue morpho butterfly facts, and information about other rainforest butterflies. It has one or two other little defence mechanisms, too …. The larger eyespots may deter predators, who at first glance could think the eyes belong to a larger creature. Follow the link below to find out more and to sign up! They have a wingspan of up to 8 in (20 cm); that is the standard width of a piece of printer paper, so it is pretty amazing to see one – especially when it lands on your arm. Their vivid, iridescent blue coloring is a result of the microscopic scales on the backs of their wings, which reflect light. The name morpho is thought to originate from the fact that these butterflies appear to change shape as theyre flying. 3 1 0. The name blue morpho can actually be used to refer to any blue butterfly of the genus morpho which are part of the larger Nymphalidae family. Humans pose another threat to the Blue Morpho butterfly. They’ve evolved that way for a number of reasons. In comparison, the world’s smallest butterfly, the Western Pygmy Blue, has a wingspan of half an inch; the world's largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, has a wingspan of 10 to 12 inches. With wingspans that can reach 20 cm (8 inches), morphos are among the largest and most iridescent Central and South American butterflies. Blue morpho butterflies are some of the biggest butterflies in the world! Blue Morpho Butterfly Classification. These butterflies have a wing span of one to one eighth of an inch, and one can see these butterflies feeding on wild strawberries. 5 5 1. Blue morphos are large, brilliant blue butterflies that live in the forests of South and Central America, and also in parts of North America. Let’s find out more about this and other facts about blue morphos. When looking for a mate, blue Morphos can be found flying through all of the layers of the rainforest looking for a mate. Morpho peleides Kollar, the blue morpho butterfly, also known as the peleides blue morpho or common blue morpho, is a brightly colored butterfly abundant in tropical environments in Central and South America (Figure 1). Found in the forest understory, they prefer to fly close to the ground. Blue Morphofalter. The nanostructures are mainly responsible for the scattering of the light in Blue Morpho butterfly. Although blue morphos are not directly endangered, like many rainforest animals they are threatened by deforestation and habitat fragmentation. It is a very rare species that has iridescent white wings which look purple when seen at certain angles. The Blue Morpho Butterfly lives high in the canopy of the rainforest. 15 28 0. Their beauty is brief: the entire blue morpho life cycle lasts only 115 days. Morpho Butterfly Habitat. Dora the Explorer Go Diego Go 719 - The Butterfly Ball. When the blue morpho flies, the contrasting bright blue and dull brown colors flash, making it look like the morpho is appearing and disappearing. Their vivid, iridescent blue coloring is a result of the microscopic scales on the backs of their wings, which reflect light. The most striking aspect of the butterfly’s appearance is its iridescent blue wings. Blue Morpho Butterfly. Blue morphos face many potential predators in the rainforest, such as lizards, frogs and birds. 9 10 0. As caterpillars, Blue Morphos ingest certain foods that contain poisonous compounds. 3. We hope that you have enjoyed reading these facts about blue morpho butterflies. 43 30 13. The Rainforest Alliance is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-3377893. Blue Morpho Butterflies lay eggs which in turn become caterpillars. Awesome animal facts and information delivered direct to your inbox. All Rights Reserved. Dead-wood Leaf nymphs look just like dead leaves: a handy protective measure. Therefore, each time the butterfly moves, the light that hits each scale changes, giving the butterfly that purpley/blue iridescent shimmer. Butterflies Sugar Water. The bright blue color is its most hypnotic feature and yet, these butterflies aren’t actually blue. The insect undergoes its final transformation inside this protective case. In the butterfly world, the Blue Morpho is a giant. Blue morphos have four wings, arranged as two fore wings and two hind wings. As caterpillars, blue morphos eat the leaves of various plants, its favourites being members of the pea family. Here are just some of the other butterflies found in rainforests across the world: Birdwings are large, blue-green butterflies native to the Australian rainforests. They were highly valued among the 20 th-century butterfly collectors and was widely hunted.The wings of this species are a prime example of iridescent blue coloration in the insect world. of our income supported sustainability programs. Their vivid, iridescent blue coloring is a result of the microscopic scales on the backs of their wings, which reflect light. This is known as ‘structural coloration’, and also occurs in the feathers of some birds. Blue morphos live alone, and only come together to mate. When the Blue Morpho flies, its wings flash from brilliant blue to dull brown. Look at the shimmery wings! Reproduction. These colors are not a result of pigmentation, but are an example of iridescence through structural coloration. Adult blue morpho butterflies are unable to ‘eat’, and can only drink. Click on the photo below to discover this week’s animal! Morpho, (family Morphidae), any of numerous very large tropical American butterfly species with dazzling iridescent wings, usually with a pronounced blue area. Help conserve forests and restore balance to our planet, © Copyright 1987 - 2020, Rainforest Alliance. WildLife [Live] 4:15. It is reddish-brown with bright spots of lime green on its back, and covered in stinging hairs for protection. It is mostly endemic to South and Central America as well in Mexico. Facts about Blue Morpho Butterfly: Blue Morpho butterfly or Menelaus Morpho butterfly (Morpho Menelaus) is the most well-known species in the butterfly genus Morpho.The most prominent feature of this butterfly is its wings. 3 0 0. Copyright © 2020 ActiveWild.com. Males flash their brightly-coloured wings to intimidate rivals. Largest butterflies in the world, with wings spanning from five to eight inches continues be... Dine on plants in the rainforest associate the blue morpho butterfly facts, a. 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