Morpho aega
Morpho aega is a pretty butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1822 by Hübner. The wingspan is about 10.0 – 12.0 cm. This butterfly is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. Only the wings of the male are blue. They shines by phenomenal, blue structure colour. The wings of the female are yellow or brown.
Photos for easy identification
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Here you can see some photos of Morpho aega (male). Morpho aega is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Neotropic (South America).
Description
The forewings shine by blue structure colour. The wing leading edge and the wing tip are black. In the wing tip and at the wing leading edge there is a little white spot.
The underside is brown and beige. In the wing tip there is a little white spot and one tiny brown eye.
The hind wings shine by blue structure colour. The inner edge is brown or black. At the back edge there is a convexity.
The underside is brown and beige. There is a chain of three tiny brown eyes.
The body is dark brown or black.
Sex differences: The female is bigger than the male and has no blue structure colour. The upside is yellow and brownish. The outer edge is brown and contains a chain of yellow spots.
Distribution
Morpho aega is a butterfly of the Neotropic (South America). The distribution extend from Brazil to Venezuela, Colombia and Peru.
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Larval food
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General information
The first description was in 1822 by Hübner. There are no subspecies.
The brilliant blue is a characteristic of nearly all members of genus Morpho. The blue structure colour based on the phenomenal microscopic structure of the scales. The interference erase all wavelength of light except for blue light. Therefore the wings are blue although there are no pigments.
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Here you can see some photos of Morpho aega (female).
Protection provisions / Red List
- CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):
-no entry- (as at 23.06.2005) - EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora
-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005) - IUCN Red List of threatened species:
-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/)
Similar and closely-related species
Scientific name
Morpho aega Hübner 1822
Other names
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Classification / Taxonomy / Family tree
- Kingdom: ANIMALIA
- Phylum: ARTHROPODA
- Class: INSECTA
- Order: LEPIDOPTERA
- Suborder: DITRYSIA
- Superfamily: PAPILIONOIDEA
- Family: NYMPHALIDAE
- Subfamilie: MORPHINAE
- Tribe: MORPHINI
- Subtribe: MORPHINA
- Genus: MORPHO
- Specific name: AEGA
