A gathering of Morpho's

[Trehopr1]

Over these last couple years I have "slowly"
acquired a Morpho (here and there) from
differing sources. Their group has always
been a longtime favorite of mine although,
I have never given them un-qualified focus.

Beyond the shimmering blue coloration for
which these butterflies are best known there
remains a fair number which exhibit VERY large
size coupled with mixed amounts of brown/blue
and black. A few species still yet are of a "white"
appearance and are curious in their own right.

This is my 5th drawer (gathering) of these incredible
butterflies. Their allure and captivating presence
never fails to please....

[livingplanet3]

Beautiful specimens! This genus has always been a great favorite of mine, also. Thus far, I've managed to obtain around 35 of the nearly 150 species/subspecies. There are likely certain ones that I will never have in my collection, either due to rarity and/or price, one of which is the pale blue M. niepelti -

https://www.patrickblandin.com/wp-conte ... epelti.pdf

[Trehopr1]

Morpho niepelti is indeed one of the most desirable of
morpho species. The species is said to be an endemic of
Columbia though (I swear) I've seen 1 or 2 specimens with
data from Ecuador.

It appears to be limited in distribution, seldom encountered, or
perhaps just getting truly good (clean) specimens is a rare day !
Other reasons for its scant availability may be largely inaccessible
locals (terrain) or dangerous areas of unrest.

This species was much later described (1927); than a great many others.
The german lepidopterist Johannes Karl Rober initially named it Morpho
theseus staudingeri but, at some point later the name was changed
to honour another another lepidopterist/dealer named Friedrich Wilhelm
Niepelt.

As for size, the species runs (on par) with M. menalaus (males).
It certainly retains one of the most unique shades of blue anywhere.

Back in 2017 I saw 3 really (fine) examples sold on Ebay. Bidding was
robust and the "average" selling price was $260.00 USD. Now, just 5 years
later another nice one sold (just today) in (France) for a whopping
($520.00 plus $35.00 shipping).

I've never seen a female of this species....

[Trehopr1]

Here I present the 1st drawer of Morpho's that
I ever pulled togather some 10 years ago. Most
of these were acquired "one piece at a time"
throughout the 1990's. Other things needed my
available drawer space more so these had to wait
a bit longer..

Also, it could be said that I'm very selective
in my specimen choices.

As you can see drawers fill quickly when you
dabble in Morpho's !

[Trehopr1]

One of the "highlights" of my previous drawer
is this one: Morpho rhetenor rhetenor (British Guiana)

It absolutely has THE most shimmering/reflective blue
in the drawer and its falcate wingshape makes it
the most "shapely" in appearance.

This is a species commercially bred these days so its
common to see in framework. Despite, the common view
of it as a species I don't think it takes anything away from
it's overall magnificence.

The renowned Victorian collector Henry Walter Bates recounted
in his memoirs his observances of it in flight: "When it comes sailing
along it occasionally flaps its wings and then the blue surface flashes
in the sunlight so that it is visible a quarter of a mile away".

[Trehopr1]

Morpho rhetenor is a widespread and fairly common species
found from Columbia and Venezuela to Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia.
There are 6 described subspecies of which 2 occur in Peru.

Subspecies cacica and helena (both Peru) are similar to the nominate
in reflective color/wingshape; yet are differing in the details.

Here I present: Morpho rhetenor cacica (Peru, Satipo, Aug.10.1986)

[Trehopr1]

"White" morpho's are a curious lot in their own
right. There are relatively few species that fall
under this catagory. Yet, they are indeed something
completely diffrent amongst these otherwise showy
butterflies.

The (pair) shown in the above post are representative
of the species: Morpho polyphemus (El Salvador, El Refugio)
Ahuachapan, 250m
May 1992

Its basic range falls between southern Mexico on thru to Costa Rica.

As a collector I find the toughest part of acquiring "whites"
is running across ones that DON'T have stained wings near or
around the abdomen.

[Trehopr1]

Of all the species in my above posted drawer
this species -- Morpho absoloni is my stand-alone
favorite. The coloration of its blue is quite unlike
most other "blue" morpho's. It has a certain "warmth"
about it.

My particular example hails from: (Peru, Madre de Dios)
200m, May 1995

Females of this species are very seldom offered and
command just about the "highest" expense (incurred) in
the ownership of ANY morpho butterfly species !

[livingplanet3]

...The (pair) shown in the above post are representative
of the species: Morpho polyphemus (El Salvador, El Refugio)
Ahuachapan, 250m
May 1992

Its basic range falls between southern Mexico on thru to Costa Rica...

Incidentally, according to BugGuide, M. polyphemus is the only Morpho species that (extremely rarely) strays into the US (AZ) -

https://bugguide.net/node/view/62012

Of all the species in my above posted drawer
this species -- Morpho absoloni is my stand-alone
favorite. The coloration of its blue is quite unlike
most other "blue" morpho's. It has a certain "warmth"
about it...

Agreed - absoloni's coloration is rather unusual; noticeably different from that of species such as rhetenor and cypris. I see you also have a specimen of anaxibia - a species which again is unusual in its coloration, in its own way.

[Trehopr1]

The last species "highlight" of my previously
posted drawer belongs to the "theseus grouping".
This subspecies is Morpho theseus fruhstorferi.

My specimen hails from: (Ecuador, Mera, Nov.25.2004)

This (large by morpho standards) species is quite "unlike"
the all-white species. The wingshape of the theseus group
basically has sharply angled forewings coming to a rather
pointed apex (angle); then followed by rounded hindwings.

The white coloration as one can see is much more opaque
(if not pasty-white); as opposed to the white see-through
wings of the white species group. Additionally, this subspecies
and theseus juturna (Peru) have nicely margined wings in black.

While both opaque-white subspecies are quite nice and diffrent
from anything else; the harder to get of the two is this one
(M. theseus fruhstorferi).

A caveat of these white (theseus) subspecies is that from the
collector standpoint they can be rather difficult to get clean
(almost scratch-less) specimens of....

This specimen is the BEST one of which I have ever encountered
during the last 10 years. Virtually, all of the other 8-10 examples
seen showed moderate to extensive wing scratches; owed to living
a life.

[Trehopr1]

Indeed livingplanet3,
Morpho anaxibia is yet another one of the GREAT
morpho species any true collector/enthusiast of
these should endeavor to own !

Anaxibia may lack the wonderful gloss of the rhetenor
group however, its duller blue color has its own particular
attractiveness. Also, the species is unique because it is
really only found in the region of southern Brazil and it
stands quite alone as being the only morpho having blue
coloration on its abdomen !

This sadly goes un-noticed and little known since most
(males) in the market are of coarse sold abdomen discarded.



Females also have blue abdomens but, these tend to be left-on
rather than (removed) as in the males. They are also far-less
often collected or even offered so naturally they run quite
expensive these days at several hundreds of dollars in descent
condition.

[livingplanet3]

(anaxibia)
...Females also have blue abdomens but, these tend to be left-on
rather than (removed) as in the males. They are also far-less
often collected or even offered so naturally they run quite
expensive these days at several hundreds of dollars in descent
condition.

I hope to acquire a female anaxibia someday - it's quite spectacular. Presently, I have two males.

Here's a nice photo of a live M. amphitryon, a quite large species from Bolivia / Peru, that I obtained a specimen of last year -



And a cluster of amphitryon caterpillars -

[Trehopr1]

Fantastic photographs !

Those larvae are really something to see.

[Trehopr1]

Godart's morpho (Morpho godarti) was described in 1844.
It was named to honour the French entomologist Jean Baptiste
Godart.
By morpho standards this is a large species which is known from
Bolivia and parts of Peru. It remains the LARGEST pearlescent
species of morpho. The subspecies (M. godarti assarpai) is the
actual Peruvian version of this butterfly.

Females are equally large but, are light brown in coloration with
a (light) purplish sheen over the center section of each wing.

This species is so unique in its shimmering pearlescent garb that
I felt compelled to post it and say something of its grandeur.



Males are of coarse easier to run across in our hobby; naturally
females will cost a bit more but, togather the dimorphic pair is
something to see -- if not own.

[livingplanet3]

...Subspecies cacica and helena (both Peru) are similar to the nominate
in reflective color/wingshape; yet are differing in the details.

Here I present: Morpho rhetenor cacica (Peru, Satipo, Aug.10.1986)...

There appears to be a considerable degree of variability in the pronunciation of the white markings in M. rhetenor cacica. Your specimen seems to be in about the "middle" range in this respect, and is a bit different from mine (see photos below), which I would classify as being more of a slightly intermediate form between cacica and helena, in that it has the faint hindwing markings, which in ssp. helena are much bolder.

Because many specimens represent variable transitions between cacica and helena, can the various subspecies of rhetenor truly be considered subspecies? Perhaps they would more accurately be described as "forms"?

cacica_1.jpg (173.76 KiB) Viewed 8753 times

cacica_2.jpg (154.07 KiB) Viewed 8753 times

[Trehopr1]

That is a wonderful specimen. It leans heavily towards helena in appearance with something else in the mix. As to whether this is a naturally occurring form or intermediate is another thing.

I began noticing these odd looking helena crosses about 5 years ago (on our sister forum) where they were pictured at various insect fairs.

I highly suspect that these are produced for monetary gain and to add a dash of something different for the Morpho community to collect.

My specimen of cacica is indeed quite typical for the subspecies. Some specimens have more pronounced spots than mine or even an additional one or two. M. helena certainly looks distinct from cacica as a subspecies as does the subspecies augustinae which is found in the transition zone of Venezuela and Brazil.

I have not seen examples of the other three subspecies.

So, honestly I never saw the kind of morpho you have pictured (prior to about 5 years ago). I suppose that is all I can interject at this point in any discussion regarding subspecies of rhetenor.

[livingplanet3]

That is a wonderful specimen. It leans heavily towards helena in appearance with something else in the mix. As to whether this is a naturally occurring form or intermediate is another thing.

I began noticing these odd looking helena crosses about 5 years ago (on our sister forum) where they were pictured at various insect fairs.

I highly suspect that these are produced for monetary gain and to add a dash of something different for the Morpho community to collect.

My specimen of cacica is indeed quite typical for the subspecies. Some specimens have more pronounced spots than mine or even an additional one or two. M. helena certainly looks distinct from cacica as a subspecies as does the subspecies augustinae which is found in the transition zone of Venezuela and Brazil.

I have not seen examples of the other three subspecies.

So, honestly I never saw the kind of morpho you have pictured (prior to about 5 years ago). I suppose that is all I can interject at this point in any discussion regarding subspecies of rhetenor.

Indeed, this specimen was sold to me as a helena X cacica "hybrid", though I don't know if it was produced via captive pairing (as is being done with various Agrias / Prepona species), or if this is a form that occurs naturally. I suspect however, that it's likely a result of captive breeding. I'm a bit hesitant to call it a true hybrid, since all forms of rhetenor are technically now considered to be subspecies, or at least regional variants, of the same species? -

http://morpho.co/rhetenor.html