Peleides Blue Morpho
The blue on the open wings is absolutely iridescent. Most commonly morphos are seen in clearings and along streams where their bright blue wings are most visible. Pilots flying over rainforests have apparently even encountered large groups of blue morphos above the treetops, warming themselves in the sun. The iridescent blue is just partially visible in tis picture.
Blue morphos live in the tropical forests of Latin America from Mexico to Colombia. Adults spend most of their time on the forest floor and in the lower shrubs and trees of the understory with their wings folded. However, when looking for mates, the blue morpho will fly through all layers of the forest.
"Morpho peleides", the Peleides blue morpho, common morpho or the emperor is an iridescent tropical butterfly found in Mexico, Central America, northern South America, Paraguay and Trinidad. Most authorities believe that "peleides" is a subspecies of "Morpho helenor".
