Why is the blue morpho butterfly important to the rainforest?
Pilots flying over rainforests have even encountered large groups of blue morphos above the treetops, warming themselves in the sun. The underside of the morpho’s wings is a dull brown color with many eyespots, providing camouflage against predators such as birds and insects when its wings are closed.
How do blue morpho butterfly adapt to the rainforest?
Blue morpho butterflies are well-adapted to their tropical forest habitats, having both behavioral and structural adaptations that allow them to feed, avoid predators and eventually reproduce. These adaptations are evident at all stages of the blue morpho’s life cycle, from an egg through to a mature adult.
What do blue morpho butterflies do to survive?
Blue Morpho caterpillar chews leaves, but as an adult, it can only use its long proboscis to suck the juice from rotten fruits, and drink tree sap, fungi and mud. They live in lower shrubs and trees, but when on the hunt for a suitable mate, will travel through all layers of the forest.
Are morpho butterflies poisonous?
Are blue morpho butterflies poisonous? Yes. As caterpillars, the leaves they feed on contained a poisonous compound which then makes them toxic to predators as adults.
What adaptations do butterflies have to survive?
Some adaptations of butterflies include wing colorings that mimic the colorings of toxic species, clear membranes that allow butterflies to fly even after the scales of their wings have been rubbed off. Butterflies also move to shaded areas when the temperature is hot.
What do morpho butterflies do?
Morpho butterflies feed on the juices of fermenting fruit with which they may also be lured. The inebriated butterflies wobble in flight and are easy to catch. Morphos will also feed on the bodily fluids of dead animals and on fungi. Therefore, Morpho butterflies may be important in dispersing fungal spores.
What makes a blue morpho butterfly special?
Due to their size and striking beauty, blue morpho butterflies are one of the most emblematic and favorite of all Amazon species. They have a characteristic vivid blue color and shiny wings that reflect the light, making them easy to spot amidst the jungle canopy.
Where do butterfly lives?
Butterflies can be found in nearly all types of habitat, including desert, wetlands, grassland, forest, and alpine. Some butterflies in the family Lycaenidae spend part of their lives underground!
Are morpho butterflies rare?
In fact, the blue morpho uses structural color to get its particular shade of blue. Blue is actually an extremely rare color in nature. These butterflies have scales that overlap, refracting light similar to a prism. So, when the light hits the wings, it is refracted against the scales and comes off as blue.
What are the facts about the morpho butterfly rainforest?
Morpho Butterfly Rainforest. Some interesting facts about butterflies, like the Blue Morpho in particular, are that they fly quickly through the thick jungle amongst the canopy. They enjoy bright sunlight and are their most active when they are in the bright light of the sun. With a length of nearly six inches,…
Why are the wings of the blue morpho butterfly blue?
Blue Morpho butterflies have few enemies – including humans. The blue color of the morpho butterfly is created because of light reflection. The wings of the butterflies in the Morpho genus have a structure that contributes to the unique effect.
How many times does a blue morpho butterfly moult?
Blue Morpho Butterfly Facts Blue morphos have a characteristically slow, wobbling, flight. Blue morpho caterpillars moult five times before becoming chrysalises. Blue morphos are visible to pilots flying over the rainforest. Blue morphos live alone, and only come together to mate.
What kind of food does the blue morpho butterfly eat?
The Blue Morpho Butterfly will generally eat rotting or fermenting fruit using its probiscus. Habitat. The Blue Morpho Butterfly lives high in the canopy of the rainforest. Size. Blue Mophos grow to be approximately 5 – 6 inches wide. Reproduction. Blue Morpho Butterflies lay eggs which in turn become caterpillars.
Morpho Butterfly Rainforest. Some interesting facts about butterflies, like the Blue Morpho in particular, are that they fly quickly through the thick jungle amongst the canopy. They enjoy bright sunlight and are their most active when they are in the bright light of the sun. With a length of nearly six inches,…
How are the eyes of a blue morpho butterfly used?
Morphos’ eyes are thought to be highly sensitive to UV light. This means males are able to see one another from great distances. The butterflies’ antennae are used to taste and smell the air around them. Like (almost) all butterflies, there are four stages to a blue morpho’s development: egg, larva (caterpillar),…
What kind of food does a morpho butterfly eat?
The Morpho butterfly drinks its food rather than eats it. It uses its proboscis (long, protruding mouth part) to drink sap and fruit juices. Morpho butterflies taste with sensors on their legs and taste-smell the air with their antennae. Morpho butterflies feed on the juices of fermenting fruit with which they may also be lured.
What kind of caterpillar is a morpho butterfly?
Morpho Butterfly Reproduction Like all butterflies, Morpho butterflies pass through four distinct phases of metamorphosis. First, the pale green eggs that resemble dewdrops hatch into larvae, better known as caterpillars. The caterpillar is red-brown with bright patches of lime-green on its back and has stinging hairs.
