Morpho pleiedes
With wings spanning from three to eight inches, the blue Morpho pleiedes butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in the world.
The brilliant blue color in its wings is caused by the
diffraction of the light from millions of tiny scales on its wings. The iridescent color is used for protection in an amazing way. The butterflies stick together in groups to deter their predators. By rapidly flashing their wings, they drive the predators away.
The underside of the morpho’s wings, on the other hand, is a rather dull, brown color with many "eye" spots. It provides a perfect camouflage against predators when its wings are closed.
Morpho pleiedes is native to northern part of South America and can be found in Mexico, Paraguay and the rainforest of Central America. It feeds on the juices from rotting tropical fruits.