Morpho portis

Morpho portis is a nice butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1822 by Hübner. With a wingspan of 10.0 – 12.0 cm Morpho portis is a big member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The male is brilliant blue, because of the phenomenal microscopic structure of there scales.

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 portis (male). Morpho portis is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Neotropic ecozone (South America).

Description

The forewings are brilliant blue. The wing leading edge and the pinion is black. At the pinion there is a little white spot. Some structures of underside show through the wing.
The underside is brown, grey and marmorate. There are two big eyes.

The hind wings are brilliant blue. The inner edge is grey. The margin is black. Some structures of underside show through the wing.
The underside is brown, grey and marmorate. There are three big eyes.

The body is brown, but the upside is black.

Sex differences:

Distribution

Morpho portis is a butterfly of the Neotropic ecozone (South America). The distribution extend from Brazil to Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay.

: 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 1822 by Hübner. 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/)