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Lifecycle
The gorgeous blue morpho is a neotropical butterfly, indigenous to Central and South America. The Belizean blue morpho lives at the tops of the tallest rainforest trees, in the emergent layer, high above the canopy. Like all butterflies, the blue morpho's life cycle includes four stages: Egg Blue morpho eggs are pale green, laid on the underside of leaves in clusters that resemble dew drops. Eggs hatch in 8 or 9 days. Larva Blue morpho caterpillars are born hungry and they stay hungry throughout this stage of their lives, feasting on the lush green leaves of the rainforest. The hairy, red-brown, green spotted caterpillars spin a communal web, where after 9 to 11 weeks, they pupate together. Pupa The blue morpho chrysilis—a unique "dormant pupa"—hangs in the communal web for 2 weeks until the butterfly emerges. Imago or Butterfly Adult males are brilliant blue, females somewhat duller. Microscopic ridges on the backs of their wings fracture and reflect light, and they appear iridescent, like blue jewels. When they fold their wings, they're camouflaged dull brown with bronze "eye spots." Adults eat the juices of rotting rainforest fruits. In Belize, blue morphos are a common sight near unspoiled forests. They are also raised at butterfly farms for distribution to zoos and museums throughout the world. In South America, other blue morpho varieties are raised for zoos and also as materials for artists, who use them for inlay, collage, and jewelry making. |
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