Blue Morpho (Menelaus)
FamilyNymphalidae
Scientific NameMorpho menelaus
RangeSouth America
HabitatRainforest
About the Blue Morpho (Menelaus)
One of the most intensely blue of all morpho species. Their structural color is so vivid that it can be seen from 800 meters away. The color is produced by layers of scales with microscopic ridges that only reflect blue wavelengths. When they fly, the alternating flash of blue and brown creates a stunning optical effect. Their beauty has made them a symbol of the Amazon rainforest.
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