Friday, April 12, 2013

Blue Morpho Butterfly on White Hat


Blue Morpho Butterfly (Morpho peleides) on white hat. For some odd reason, these butterflies are attracted to white. In this picture, you can see two blue morphos on the same hat. If I recall, there was a third, for a brief moment, as well. In nature, the caterpillars of the Blue Morpho butterfly feed on plants in the pea family. Once mature, the butterflies live on the juice/fluid from rotting fruit, decomposing animals, tree sap, fungi and wet mud. Not the most apetizing menu. It's not at all clear what food or other stimulus the butterflies were mistaking this baseball cap for.

Morphos spend most of their time near the forest floor, which is understandable, given their diet. They range from Mexico through Columbia and are sometimes found in large swarms that are visible at great distances.

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