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Blue Morpho

Common Name: Blue Morpho
Scientific Name: Morpho menelaus
Wingspan: 13-14 cm
Location: Widespread in the South American rain forest from Venezuela to Brazil

Both males and females of this beautiful species are a deep metallic-blue, but females have broad, black margins with white spots. The undersides of both sexes are brown with a row of brown ringed, orange eyespots outlined with pale, metallic-bronze. Females also have a broken band of metallic-yellow bronze. Blue morphos fly rapidly through dense forest and feed on the juices of fallen fruit. Males are particularly active, chasing each other in bright sunlight.