Common Morpho (Morpho helenor) (Cramer, 1776)

 

Synonyms: Common Blue Morpho, Helenor Blue Morpho

 

 

Morpho helenor is common and widespread in the tropical Americas: from north-eastern Mexico to Bolivia and northern Argentina, and also in Trinidad. It occurs in a variety of forested habitats, including dry and wet tropical forests and cloud forests, up to 1,800 m. M. helenor includes 30 recognized subspecies, and some may eventually be elevated to full species. The wings are enormous, brilliant blue on the upperside, brown with the distinctive rings on the underside. The flight is slow and bouncy. Adults feed at rotting fruit and tree sap, also consuming dissolved minerals at mud-puddles. The caterpillar feeds on leaves of trees from the Fabaceae (Dalbergia, Inga, Machaerium, Platymiscium, Pterocarpus, Swartzia, etc.) and Rubiaceae (Genipa spp.).

 

		D39663 Common Morpho (Morpho helenor achillaena) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D32109 Common Morpho (Morpho helenor peleides) Grande Riviere, Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D39659 Common Morpho (Morpho helenor achillaena) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D32108 Common Morpho (Morpho helenor peleides) Grande Riviere, Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
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