About Morpho Didius Butterflies

Appearance

• Morpho didius butterflies are, as their name implies, bright, electric blue. The edges of their wings are rimmed in back. There are sometimes some small white spots on the black markings. The undersides of the wings of the Morpho didius are brown and gray, featuring eye spots, which are patterns that look like an animal's eyes. The colors on the top and bottoms of the wings allow the Morpho didius to deceive its predators, either by seeming larger than it really is or by blending with the sky as it flaps its wings. The body of the Morpho didius is black; and like all butterflies, the Morpho didius has six legs and a set of antennae. Morpho didius butterflies have a wingspan between 5 and 8 inches across.

Habitat

• Morpho didius butterflies live in tropical areas, such as rain forests. They are native to Ecuador and Peru. Subspecies can be found throughout Central and South America. These butterflies prefer to spend their time near the ground, seeking out food. They will occasionally fly to the tree tops in order to warm themselves in bright sunlight. Morpho didius butterflies also move through different parts of the forest, flying high and low when looking for a mate.

Diet

• Morpho didius butterflies find food by using their antennae to taste the air, looking for anything that seems edible. These antennae function as something between tasting and smelling organs. Morpho didius butterflies also use special sensors on their legs to taste food. Morpho didius butterflies eat a wide variety of liquid foods, such as rotting fruits, decaying animal material, mud, sap and fungi. The butterfly sucks up liquid food with its proboscis, a long mouth part.

Life Cycle

• Morpho didius butterflies live for only about 115 days. They hatch from an egg as a reddish caterpillar. During this time, they eat leaves, especially pea leaves, and prepare to make the transformation into pupae. The pupa forms a chrysalis then slowly transforms into an adult butterfly. Morpho didius butterflies spend the rest of their lives eating and mating, starting the cycle over again for a new generation of butterflies.