Morpho anaxibia

Morpho anaxibia is a beautiuf butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1777 by Esper. With a wingspan of 14.0 – 16.0 cm Morpho anaxibia is a big member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The brilliant blue depend on the phenomenal microscopic structure of the scales. The margine is broad and brown.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

These are nice photos of Morpho anaxibia (female). Morpho anaxibia is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Neotropic ecozone (South America).

Description

The forewings are brilliant blue. The margin is broad and brown and include a chain of orange spots. Between the blue area and the brown margin there is a chain of little white spots.
The underside is brown, grey and marmorate. There is a chain of five big eyes.

The hind wings are brilliant blue. The inner edge is grey. The margin is broad and brown and include two chains of orange spots.
The underside is brown, grey and marmorate. There is a chain of five small eyes.

The body is brown, but the upside is black and blue.

Sex differences: The male is smaller than the female. It is brilliant blue and only the wing leading edge and the pinion are black.

Distribution

Morpho anaxibia is a butterfly of the Neotropic ecozone (South America). The distribution is restricted to Brazil.

: This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.

Larval food

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General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1777 by Esper. There are no subspecies.

The brilliant blue is a characteristic of nearly all members of genus Morpho. The phenomenal microscopic structure of scales excite interference, which erase all wavelength of light except for blue light. Therefore the wings are blue although there are no pigments.

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/)