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

• Global Species
• Catalogue of Life
• Funet
• Paul Smart, 1976 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World in Color.London, Salamander:Encyclopedie des papillons. Lausanne, Elsevier Sequoia (French language edition)ISBN 9780948427046 ISBN 0600313816 page 234 fig.3female form marmorata Fruhstorfer (Brazil)

External links

• Butterflies of America Images of type and other specimens of Morpho epistrophus catenaria
• Morpho catenarius
• World Field Guide