This famous blue butterfly that stirs the imagination will be back flying free
in the Insectarium’s Great Vivarium.
The common morpho has fascinating bright, iridescent colors. The underside of its wings sports circular spots called ocelli, whose surprise effect on predators can cause them to flee.
Before reaching this radiant adult phase, the butterfly is first a caterpillar with an elongated colorful, fuzzy body. Then, as a chrysalis, it can be observed hanging upside down while its transformation continues until it’s ready to deploy its wings. Its natural habitat is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
French name: Morpho bleu
Latin name: Morpho helenor
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Range: Neotropical
Number of species: About 45 in the world and 0 in Québec
Adult diet: The common morpho feeds on the juice of ripe fruit and on sap.