Morpho sulkowskyi

Morpho sulkowskyi is a butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1850 by Kollar. With a wingspan of 9.0 – 11.0 cm Morpho sulkowskyi is a big member of the family NYMPHALIDAE. The butterfly is predominantly white, but it has an iridescence blue on wings. This iridescence blue depend on the phenomenal microscopic structure of the 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 sulkowskyi. Morpho sulkowskyi is a member of the family NYMPHALIDAE from Neotropic ecozone (South America).

Description

The forewings are white with a light iridescencs blue. The wing leading edge and the pinion is black. Some structures of underside show through the wing.
The underside is whitish, brown and marmorate. There is a short chain of small eyes.

The hind wings are white with a light iridescencs blue. In back there is a broad brown area. Some structures of underside show through the wing.
The underside is whitish, brown and marmorate. There is a short chain of big eyes.

The body is dark brown or black.

Sex differences:

Distribution

Morpho sulkowskyi is a butterfly of the Neotropic ecozone (South America). The distribution extend from Brazil to Peru and Ecuador.

: 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 1850 by Kollar. There is only one subspecies.

Morpho sulkowskyi sirene [Niepelt 1911]

The iridescence 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/)