Blue Morpho

We are lucky that the Blue Morpho butterflies are widespread across our area – most of us see a few flash by every day and may not think twice about it. And on numerous occasions I have been tasked with catching and removing a Morpho which flew into the house through the open patio doors.

We often forget that these dazzling insects aren’t common in every part of Costa Rica. In the drier northern regions, sightings are rare, so while they feel ordinary to us, tourists react with awe when they see one. Some visitors even come to our area just to catch a glimpse of a Blue Morpho in flight. Ben has led a few informal spotting trips for those hoping to witness the spectacle firsthand.

Watching a Morpho silently emerge from dense jungle and glide along a stream, roadside, or cliffside before vanishing into the forest leaves a lasting impression. That brief moment of electric blue against lush green becomes one of those unforgettable tropical memories.

🦋 LOCAL BLUE MORPHO SPECIES

Six species of Blue Morphos call Costa Rica home but only two two of them wear the spectacularly electrifying coloration – the Morpho menelaus and Morpho peleides – their wings are almost wholly iridescent blue. The other four species have mixed coloration including black, white, brown, and darker navy blue, or are also brilliant but are considered by some experts to be subspecies of the above mentioned two, menelaus and peleides.

The Morpho family includes 29 species and, technically, each of these species, if blue, can be referred to as ‘Blue Morpho’. In this article, the name will be reserved for the Costa Rican populations of menelaus and peleides. The photo below shows a small sample of the Morpho variety.

🦋 A BIG BUTTERFLY!

The Blue Morpho is amongst the largest butterflies not only in Costa Rica, but in the world – its wingspan of nearly 5 inches (13 cm) combined with the striking coloring ensures that when a Blue Morpho is around, you will not miss it. This is especially true on sunny days when the direct sun causes their wings to glow and pierce your field of vision like bright blue laser beams. The males have larger and brighter wings as compared to the females, and are more likely to leave the forests and be seen in flight as they search for mates or chase off rivals.

💙 THE STORY BEHIND THE IRRIDESCENT BLUE

No Blue to be Seen!

A Blue Morpho’s wing doesn’t contain any blue pigment at all. To the eye, it shows a dazzling, metallic shimmer—probably the most vivid blue you’ve ever seen. But that color comes from structure, not pigment. Tiny, translucent nanotube-like scales cover the wing and bend light in precise ways. Light bounces between these microscopic structures until a brilliant blue escapes and reaches your eye.

The shade shifts depending on the angle between your eye and the wing. This effect is called iridescence, a form of structural coloration found across nature. Peacocks use it to decorate their tail feathers with shimmering hues. Marble berries rely on it to produce the most intense natural color ever recorded. Beetles flash every color of the rainbow with it, and squid use it to change their appearance in seconds. Many other species rely on this trick of light to dazzle, hide, or communicate.

The Technology Behind the Color

One theory explains the Morpho’s brilliance as a defense against predators. The intense coloring confuses birds that hunt butterflies and makes the insect seem much larger than it really is. That illusion helps discourage attacks from birds and other predators. The name “Morpho” comes from the way the butterfly appears to change shape while flying. Bright flashes from the upper wings alternate with the dark underside, creating a vanishing effect. The butterfly seems to disappear and reappear, almost like it’s teleporting through the forest.

Sadly, that same brilliance attracts a different kind of predator—humans. Collectors seek Morphos for museums, private displays, and decorative uses in art and jewelry. Their shimmering wings, while protective in nature, also make them a target.

In the photo below, looking at the scale, it would take 2,000 of these tall thin nanostructures, lined against each other, to stretch over a length of just 1 millimeter – so you now have an appreciation of how elaborate the Blue Morpho’s wing scales actually are! So small, in fact, that they cannot be imaged using conventional optical microscopes, only by an electron microscopes.

👀 WHAT ABOUT THE ‘CAT EYES’ ON THE BACK OF THEIR WINGS?

You may have noticed that the back side of the Blue Morpho wing is nothing like the front side. Gone is the flashing blue, replaced by a darker brown shading with a peculiar marking seen on many other animals including insects, fish, birds, reptiles and mammals – a pair of false eyes, or ‘eyespots’.  The darker coloring serves as camouflage for when the butterfly is resting or feeding and, as you have guessed, the Blue Morphos use the eyespot markings to discourage predators from harming the butterfly – by both scaring the attacking animals by making the butterfly appear to be a much larger creature, and by deflecting the attack towards the less vulnerable body areas.

Interestingly, while many animals use eyespots for the same purpose, some use them for other purposes –  such as attracting a mate (peacock), encouraging their pups to follow them (several species of wildcats), or for camouflage (seen in some butterflies) – but that is a fascinating topic for another article.

🔁 LIFE CYCLE 

A female Morpho lays about 12 eggs on the underside of a leaf, usually from a pea species favored by the caterpillars. The eggs respond to their surroundings and shift color depending on nearby plant tones. Most appear green with a brown spot, though some turn transparent or brown. The caterpillars emerge reddish brown with bright green patches and bristles that irritate skin on contact.

Most caterpillars hatch during the dry season and pause development if conditions become too hot or dry. They wait for better weather before completing their transformation into butterflies. The life cycle includes roughly two weeks as eggs, ten weeks as caterpillars, and one to four weeks as adult butterflies. Most complete their metamorphosis near the start of the rainy season, though transformations happen year-round. In Costa Ballena, Morphos remain visible throughout the year, except during heavy tropical rains. They avoid flying in those conditions, since large raindrops can easily damage their delicate wings.

🍊🌷 FEEDING

Blue Morphos, in their caterpillar form, predominantly feed on pea plants – and it is the chemicals inside these plants that allow the caterpillars to wear irritating bristles and adult butterflies to be poisonous to many species of potential predators. Adults feed on rotting fruit by sucking the nutritious juices. A common Morpho butterfly feeder consists of placing rotting fruit on a wooden plank – this attracts the Morphos and can make for a great conversation piece, especially if cold climate friends or relatives are over for a visit. The butterflies are also known to sip on fungi and even the juices of decomposing animals. They prefer to spend most of their time in the cover of the jungle and will descend to the forest floor in search of food.

📸 GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CAMERA!

Many have tried, but photographing Blue Morphos in flight rarely ends in success. Their movement stays erratic and unpredictable, making any attempt to set up a shot feel hopeless. The intense iridescence of their wings often overwhelms camera sensors, leaving behind nothing more than a blurry streak of electric blue. Even when resting, these butterflies frustrate photographers by folding their wings, hiding the brilliant color and revealing only the muted eyespots.

Finding one at rest feels nearly impossible, and even then, the photo rarely captures what you hoped for. The odds of catching that perfect moment in the wild remain slim. A local butterfly conservatory offers a far better chance. As does a backyard butterfly feeder.

‼️ THREATS

For a time, Costa Rica’s Morphos faced serious pressure from rainforest destruction and butterfly hunting. Collectors targeted them heavily, and shrinking jungle habitat made survival difficult. Now, the forests are returning as Costa Rica moves through a strong phase of reforestation. Hunting no longer poses a major threat, and the Morphos are thriving again. Some pressure still exists in areas with heavy development, but they remain off the threatened species list

Imagine living in an unspoiled paradise where amazing picture-book animals like the Blue Morpho are seen daily  – but at the same time being just steps away from modern amenities: shops and supermarkets, great restaurants, entertainment, and countless tourist attractions like ziplining, scuba diving or deep sea fishing. Let us make your dreams a reality – visit RE/MAX We Sell Paradise to meet your trusted real estate partners, or view the hot properties in our local area.

All photos courtesy of Wikicommons.