Common Morpho Butterfly (Morpho peleides) Science Image

Ref: morpho25



Common Morpho Butterfly (Morpho peleides) This beautiful butterfly is mainly an iridescent blue on the upper side of its wings, the male imaged here, has more blue colouring than the female. The underside of the wings are a rich brown with white markings and yellow and black eyespots. It feeds on plants of the pea family and is attracted to rotting fruit. If it is threatened it can deter predators with the release of a strong smelling scent from a gland between its forelegs. It is common in Central and Southern America and the islands of the West Indies.