Morpho catenarius

Morpho catenarius
Morpho catenarius from Brazil. Mounted specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Morphinae
Tribe: Morphini
Genus: Morpho
Species: M. catenarius
Binomial name
Morpho catenarius
Perry, 1811
Synonyms
  • Papilio catenaria Perry, 1811
  • Morpho catenaria
  • Morpho (Pessonia) laertes f. avicularia Le Moult & Réal, 1962
  • Morpho (Pessonia) laertes sachtlebeni Le Moult & Réal, 1962
  • Morpho (Pessonia) catenaria catenaria f. elataria Le Moult & Réal, 1962
  • Morpho (Pessonia) catenaria eutroparia Le Moult & Réal, 1962

Morpho catenarius is a Neotropical butterfly belonging to the Nymphalidae family, Morphinae subfamily. It is considered, by some authors, to be a subspecies of Morpho epistrophus.

Description

Morpho catenarius has a wingspan of about 75–100 millimetres (3.0–3.9 in). This species lacks the usual bright blue coloration of many Morpho species. The translucent surfaces of the wings vary from a pale blue color to almost white. The edges of the wings show a series of black spots, while the hindwings are crossed by several small "eyes." Larvae feed on Scutia buxifolia (Rhamnaceae) and other plant species in the families Erythroxylaceae, Leguminosae, Sapindaceae and Euphorbiaceae.

Distribution

This species is found in Brazil (Minas Gerais, São Paulo).

References


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