Facts About the Blue Morpho Butterfly

I've watched you now a full half-hour;
Self-poised upon that yellow flower
And, little Butterfly! Indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless! - Not frozen seas
More motionless! And then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!
- William Wordsworth (To a Butterfly)

In shades of various colors, butterflies are dainty creatures that have provided many poets and writers, inspiration for the most magnificent verses. Many have marveled at the transformation of the very modest caterpillar into a magnificent butterfly! One such species that crops up in my mind are the Blue Morpho butterflies. There are around 80 different species of Morpho butterflies, which are spotted in areas of Mexico and Central America. Here, we shall take a close look at some interesting facts about them.

The Blue Morpho butterfly is a tropical butterfly found in Central and South America.

It can also be considered to be one of the biggest butterflies seen; their wingspan measures 5 - 8 inches in width.

Its characteristic blue wings are extremely beautiful to look at. The brilliant blue wings are not really brightly colored for the female Blue Morpho butterflies.

Female Blue Morpho butterflies have a dull blue with brown edgings for their wings. They also have white spots in the blue area.

At birth, the caterpillars are reddish brown in color. They also have green colored patches on the back area.

The undersides of the wings of these butterflies have a dull brown shade. This brown color is dotted with many eyespots.

An adult Blue Morpho butterfly lives towards the ground area. These butterflies are therefore seen living in shrubs.

Experts opine the Blue Morpho butterfly is almost an endangered species. This is only because of loss of their natural habitat due to deforestation and other human activities that cause harm to their lives.

When this butterfly is spotted flying, it is one of the most beautiful sights one can ever imagine. The flapping wings create a fine blend of the bright blue and the dull brown colors and the flashing colors create a beautiful effect.

An adult Blue Morpho butterfly uses its long proboscis to suck juice from rotten fruits.

Blue Morpho caterpillars do not really like being disturbed! Dare you disturb it; the caterpillars secrete a foul-smelling fluid!

When on the hunt for a suitable mate, this butterfly travels through most of the layers of the forest.

Blue Morpho butterflies do not visit flowers for nectar! As mentioned earlier, these feed on the juice of rotting fruits or on the sap of the tree.

The caterpillars feed on various leguminous plants and are nocturnal creatures by nature.

Yet another interesting fact about the Morpho butterfly is that although there are so many different species, the main difference lies in their color and overall size.

Probably if one stops buying jewelry or ornamentation that involves the use of these butterflies and lets these creatures live their own life, only then can there be hope for their survival. Here's hoping their natural habitat is preserved forever.