Blue Morpho Butterfly Emerging From Chrysalis.

The Peleides Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides) is an iridescent tropical butterfly found in Mexico, Central America, northern South America, Paraguay and Trinidad. The example shown here is emerging from its Chrysalis and will soon be opening on a tree to dry out its damp wings. This Butterfly drinks the juices from rotting fruits for food. Examples are mango, kiwi, and lychee. Blue Morpho butterflies live in the rainforests of South America, and can be found in Mexico and Central America.The wingspan of the Blue Morpho butterfly ranges from 7.5 cm to 20 cm, so in theory an easy subject for macro photography. The entire Blue Morpho Butterfly lifecycle, from egg to adult is only 115 days. The larvae of Blue Morpho Butterflies are cannibals. The caterpillar Blue Morpho Butterfly is red-brown with patches of bright green. The brilliant blue color in the butterfly's wings is caused by the diffraction of the light from millions of tiny scales on its wings. It uses this to frighten away predators, by flashing its wings rapidly. The Blue Morpho Butterflies stick together in groups to deter their predators, a form of Mobbing behavior. In the half light of a rain forest the outer brown patterns mimic eyes this proving another defence mechanism.