Morpho deidamia

Morpho deidamia, also called Morpho is a great butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1816 by Hübner. With a wingspan of 15.0 – 17.0 cm the Morpho is a big member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. This butterfly is black with broad iridescence blue bands on wing.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

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

Description

The forewings are black. At the margin there is a chain of little white spots. A very broad brilliant blue area is crossing the wing.
The underside is dark brown and marmorate. There are three very big eyes on wing.

The hind wings are brilliant blue. The margin is ridged. There is a very broad brilliant blue area on wing.
The underside is dark brown and marmorate. There are four very big eyes on wing.

The body is dark brown.

Sex differences: The female is dark brown. At the margin there is a chain of yellow spots. There is a very broad yellow area in the middle of wing. The female has no brilliant blue scales, but it is bigger than male.

Macro photographs

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 06.09.2006, macro photograph of Morpho deidamia (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 06.09.2006, macro photograph of Morpho deidamia (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 06.09.2006, macro photograph of Morpho deidamia (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 06.09.2006, macro photograph of Morpho deidamia (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 06.09.2006, macro photograph of Morpho deidamia (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 06.09.2006, macro photograph of Morpho deidamia (underside)

Here you can see some macro photographs of Morpho deidamia.

Distribution

The Morpho (Morpho deidamia) is a butterfly of the Neotropic ecozone (South America). The distribution extend from Panama and Peru to Bolivia and from Brazil to Guyana and Venezuela.

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

Larval food

Macharium seemani

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1816 by Hübner. There are only two subspecies.

Morpho deidamia neoptolemus [Wood, 1863]
Morpho deidamia. granadensis [C. & R. Felder, 1867]

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 14.06.2006)
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/)