Butterfly Pavilion - Combining science education with hands-on fun to teach visitors about invertebrates, science and conservation.



Common Name Common Blue Morpho Morpho peleides Lepidoptera: Morphidae Range: Mexico to Venezuela, Trinidad Ours arrive from: El Salvador, Costa Rica Food: Various species in the legume family (Fabaceae), including Mucuna spp. and Machaerium spp. Notes: Morpho butterflies are prized by butterfly collectors, due to the bright iridescent blue color of the wings on most species. In contrast, the underside is dark brown, providing some camouflage for a resting individual. In addition, there is a row of eyespots on the underside that are useful in startling would-be predators. The blue color comes, not from a pigment, but from iridescence--the reflection and refraction of light through prism-like, portions of the scales.

Common Name Common Blue Morpho
Morpho peleides
Lepidoptera: Morphidae
Range: Mexico to Venezuela, Trinidad
Ours arrive from: El Salvador, Costa Rica

Food: Various species in the legume family (Fabaceae), including Mucuna spp. and Machaerium spp.

Notes: Morpho butterflies are prized by butterfly collectors, due to the bright iridescent blue color of the wings on most species. In contrast, the underside is dark brown, providing some camouflage for a resting individual. In addition, there is a row of eyespots on the underside that are useful in startling would-be predators. The blue color comes, not from a pigment, but from iridescence--the reflection and refraction of light through prism-like, portions of the scales.