Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
3/27/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Mary Harris, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-2567, maharris@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Brilliant Blue Morpho Butterflies
By Mary Harris
Curator
Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing
Any display of tropical butterflies would be incomplete without morpho butterflies. Morphos are a brilliant blue and include the largest butterflies of the western hemisphere Anyone daydreaming of a walk through a lush tropical forest will envision a shimmering morpho among the trees because these brilliant large butterflies typify the tropical experience.
Strikingly beautiful morpho butterflies have been sought after by collectors since they were first identified in the late 1800s. Morpho butterflies are so universally attractive that Bernard D'Abrera in his "Butterflies of South America" writes they "are hardly to be ignored in the forests or in collections, except by the Criminally Blind."
The butterfly display at the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing at Reiman Gardens regularly includes Morpho peleides. The flashes of bright blue and the butterfly's size, one of the largest in the exhibit with a wingspan between 5 and 7 inches, allow visitors to immediately identify individuals of this species.
The subfamily Morphinae (family Nymphalidae), contains members of the genera Antirrhea and Morpho, most species of which are characterized by strikingly different coloration and markings from the upper to lower wing surfaces. The upper side of both the forewing and hind wing of M. peleides is an intense, iridescent blue whereas the underside is brown with several eyespots. The great difference in appearance of upper and lower wing surfaces allows the vivid "blue butterfly" to essentially disappear against the forest backdrop as it beats its wings, and thus, changes its "morph." A bird in pursuit of a flying morpho frequently will lose sight of its intended prey, allowing the butterfly to escape.
The basis for the iridescent blue coloration is one of structure not pigmentation. The iridescence is the result of multiple slit interference of sun light waves as they hit the scales covering the butterflies' wings. Morpho butterfly wing scales are microscopically structured with slits of 200 nanometers, which interfere with blue light (wavelengths from 400 to 480 nanometers). This constructive interference results in the shimmering iridescence for which these butterflies are known.
The eye-catching blue of the morphos' wings is limited to the males, however, because the females are characterized by less conspicuous brown wings. The bright blue of the males likely evolved to be noticeable to other male morphos. Chases ensue when one male encounters another during their early-morning to midday patrol flights in search of mates. Collectors have capitalized on this behavior by waving bright blue scarves to attract male morphos for capture. The male-biased sex ratio of collections, often 50 males to 1 female, attests to the reliability of this method. The more drab females, apparently, are not attracted to blue objects.
Butterflies, including morphos, undergo complete metamorphosis as they develop from the ovum or egg, through five larval stages, the pupa and, finally, the adult stage. Development from egg to adult M. peleides may take as long as four months.
Eggs are laid singly on the host plant and are unique among the members of the Nymphalidae because they are hemispherical instead of the typical round shape. The early larval stages are yellow with red markings, somewhat flattened and have two "tails." More mature larval stages are brown with several tufts of hairs. All larval stages have eversible glands that emit a foul odor when the caterpillar is disturbed.
The pupal stage, or chrysalis, is pale green and oval in shape coming to a sharp point on the lower end. M. peleides chrysalides may be seen in the emergence cases in the lobby of the Conservatory Complex at Reiman Gardens. Visitors can view the final phase of metamorphosis as the adult morphos emerge from the chrysalis and expand their wings. Once the newly emerged butterflies have finished stiffening their new wings, they are released in the exhibit. Adult M. peleides do not visit the numerous exhibit flowers for nectar but instead frequent decaying fruit to obtain sugars and other nutrients. Look for the adults feeding in the fruit dishes and patrolling the walkway and water feature in the Butterfly Wing. You might even bring along a small blue scarf.
To learn more about the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University visit us on the Web at: http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/.
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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 252K. Caption: Blue Morpho. |
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