- Morpho polyphemus
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White Morpho 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Nymphalidae Genus: Morpho Subgenus: Bessonia Species: M. polyphemus Binomial name Morpho polyphemus
Westwood, 1850The White Morpho (Morpho polyphemus) is a white butterfly of Mexico and Central America, ranging as far south as Costa Rica. As suggested by its name, this is one of the relatively few morphos that is white rather than blue. Some authorities include M. luna, which is also white, as a subspecies of M. polyphemus.
Contents
Identification
Both the upper and lower wings are bright white, with some small light brown markings. There is a row of small eyespots on the underside of the hindwings.
Host plant
The caterpillar has been known to eat Paullinia pinnata (family Sapindaceae) and Inga (family Fabaceae).
Etymology
The species epithet is derived from Polyphemus, a character in Greek mythology, from the small eyespots on the wing. Polyphemus was the one-eyed son of Poseidon and Thoosa.
Image of a White Morpho butterfly taken at Butterfly World in the United Kingdom
External links
- White Morpho University of Montana Butterflies and Moths of North America pages
- NSG Voucher specimen. Photograph of underside.
- Taxonomy Browser. Upperside and underside photographs.
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