Morpho (Blue)
FamilyNymphalidae
Scientific NameMorpho peleides
RangeCentral/South America
HabitatTropical rainforest
About the Morpho (Blue)
Their stunning iridescent blue comes not from pigment but from microscopic scales that reflect blue light. Visible from aircraft. When they close their wings, only brown with eye-spots shows — a dramatic flash effect during flight that confuses predators. Their scales are being studied for anti-counterfeiting technology. Wing span reaches 15 cm. Named after the Greek hero Menelaus.
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