Morpho epistrophus
 | It has been suggested that Morpho laertes be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since November 2014. |
| Morpho epistrophus | |
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| Museum specimen of Morpho epistrophus catenaria Perry, 1811 | |
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| Species: | M. epistrophus
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| Binomial name | |
| Morpho epistrophus (Fabricius, 1796)
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Morpho laertes (Drury, 1782) Morpho catenarius Perry, 1811 | |
The White Morpho, Morpho eipistrophus, is a Neotropical butterfly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina.
Taxonomy
- Morpho epistrophus epistrophus (J.C. Fabricius, 1796) = Morpho laertes Drury 1782
- Morpho epistrophus argentinus H. Fruhstorfer, 1907
- Morpho epistrophus catenaria G. Perry, 1811
- Morpho epistrophus titei E. Le Moult & P. Réal, 1962
Account in Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde [1] Group Morpho F. (= Leonte Hbn.).Species with metallic gloss on the upper .surface; upper discocellular short, middle strongly convex proximally,lower concave distally, in the obtuse angle directed towards the anterior median. Cell of the forewing considerably widened towards the apex. Uncus and its lateral clasps relativey slender, valve distally spined.
M. laertes is the best known of a small group of species which differ from all their allies in the chalky,milky or silvery white ground-colour, laertes may be easily known by the connected chain of narrow, oblong,ocellated median spots on the underside of the hindwing, which have mostly only indistinct white pupils and washed-out yellowish bordering. The bluish white colouring is brought out very well in the figure. The upper surface resembles the figured underside, except that the forewing continues narrowly margined with black to about the middle of the median area. Hindwing with some elongate black anteterminal and more distinct submarginal patches. laertes only inhabits the provinces of Rio de Janeiro and Espiritu Santo and is very common both at Rio and Petropolis from January to March. Larva in nests on various forest-trees.It was first figured by Burmeister. Arrangement of the bristles according to Dr. Wilhelm Müller as in Morpho hercules.
Etymology
Epistrophus is a character in the Iliad.
References
- ^ Fruhstorfer, H. 1913. Family: Morphidae. In A. Seitz (editor), Macrolepidoptera of the world,vol. 5: 333–356. Stuttgart: Alfred Kernen.
- Le Moult (E.) & Réal (P.), 1962-1963. Les Morpho d'Amérique du Sud et Centrale, Editions du cabinet entomologique E. Le Moult, Paris.
External links
- Funet Taxonomy (subspecies)
- Butterflies of America Images of type and other specimens.
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