Blue morpho (Morpho helenor peleides, or sometimes just Morpho peleides) are native to tropical Central and South America, and are very popular in our Butterfly Rainforest.

The iridescent blue dorsal (top) sides of their wings are eye-catching. The color is caused by diffraction of light on their wing scales rather than pigment. The ventral (bottom) sides of their wings are mostly brown, with a varying number of eyespots.

With a wingspan of 5 to 8 inches across, they prefer open spaces along the edges of forests and rivers.

Blue morphos feed on decaying fruit instead of flowers, and prefer a wide variety of host plants, many in the Fabaceae or Leguminosae family. They have five instars or molts before entering their pupal stage, and then emerge as adults. Their entire life span is less than 120 days.

Blue morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides. Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

Blue morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

Blue morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides wing scales. Florida Museum photo by Eric Zamora

Blue morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides wings. Florida Museum photo by Eric Zamora

Blue morpho butterfly, Morpho peleides wing scales. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

Blue morpho, Morpho peleides, larva. Florida Museum photo by Andrei Sourakov

Blue morpho, Morpho peleides, eggs. Florida Museum photo by Andrei Sourakov.

Learn more

Andrei Sourakov’s blog

University of Florida’s Entomology & Nematology: Blue morpho (Morpho peleides)

McGuire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity at the Florida Museum

Exhibit