What food does the blue morpho butterfly eat?

What food does the blue morpho butterfly eat?

Adult Morpho peleides butterflies are frugivores, or fruit feeders, and often feed on decaying fruits. Unlike most butterflies, they do not visit flowers for nectar (Knopp and Krenn 2002). They have been observed feeding on tree sap from Samanea trees (Fabaceae) (Young 1975).

Who eats morpho butterflies?

What are the predators of the blue morpho butterfly? Birds, like flycatchers and jacamars, and humans. Birds eat the butterflies, and humans collect them.

Does a blue morpho butterfly eat meat?

Blue Morpho Butterflies – like many other butterflies – do not have any chewing mouthparts. They cannot “eat” anything. Adult Blue Morpho Butterflies drink the juices of rotting fruit, the juice from dead animals, the sap from trees and wet mud! Nice.

What are morpho butterflies attracted to?

It’s because blue morphos are attracted to the juice from the sweetness of grapes, and if you’re carrying a glass, you’re likely going to have a few of these gorgeous creatures heading in your direction. It’s a great way to get up close and personal with the butterflies in a way that few people ever get to experience!

What fruits do morpho butterflies eat?

The caterpillars munch on leaves from plants in the pea family [3]. The adult butterflies sip, not chew, food via a proboscis, or elongated mouthpart. They do not drink flower nectar like some butterflies, but instead consume rotting fruits, fermented tree sap, fungi and even dead animals [1].

How is the morpho butterfly blue?

Their vivid, iridescent blue coloring is a result of the microscopic scales on the backs of their wings, which reflect light. The underside of the morpho’s wings, on the other hand, is a dull brown color with many eyespots, providing camouflage against predators such as birds and insects when its wings are closed.

Is the blue morpho butterfly poisonous?

Yes, Morpho Butterflies are a poisonous species. These Blue Morpho caterpillars turn into adult Morphos and during their life cycle, they accumulate poisonous liquid, which they further use to protect themselves as shields from other predators like birds and insects.

Are morpho butterflies rare?

Unfortunately, Blue Morphos face many potential predators and threats in their rainforest home. Whilst not directly endangered, like many Amazon species they are threatened by deforestation and habitat fragmentation.

What is a morpho butterflies habitat?

Habitat. 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.