Blue Morpho Butterfly
Photo courtesy of http://bit.ly/29dA69I
Common Name: Blue Morpho
Scientific Name: Morpho Peleides
Wingspan: 7.5–20 cm (3.0–7.9 in
Location: Mexico, Central America, northern South America, Paraguay, & Trinidad
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 entire Blue Morpho butterfly lifecycle, from egg to adult is only 115 days. Morpho peleides drinks the juices from rotting fruits for food. Its favourites in captivity are mango, kiwi, and lychee. Morpho peleides butterflies stick together in groups to deter their predators, a form of mobbing behaviour.
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