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Morpho helenor
Morpho butterfly flying in the side ravines of the Chiflon Waterfall river, Chiapas, Mexico. This is probably the female of Morpho helenor. Unfortunately, she is very worn and tattered.
Tropical forest of the Chiflon Waterfall below the town of Tzimol, Chiapas, Mexico (sorry, the map is uncorrect and uncorrectable).
The pictures look the same for M. helenor moctezuma y M. menelaus. I can't tell which one it might be.
Morphos are amongst the most mis-IDed butterflies. To my knowledge there is no Menelaus in Mexico. There is a Morpho menelaus amathonte in Central America, but this looks different in color, wing shape and ventral view. Morpho peleides are relegated in Morpho helenor peleides, however, you will still find Morpho peleides noted. I am not sure which one it is Morpho helenor montezuma or Morpho helenor querrerensis. Maybe San Cristobal is too far in the east for being Querrerensis. But yours is too worn to decide. So with Morpho helenor you are on the safe side.
Thank you Andres. It could be M. hyacinthus or M. menelaus? This specimen was an older butterfly with a lot of scale loss. M. hyacinthus seems to be with more wing area blue.
Spotted on Oct 14, 2012
Submitted on Oct 20, 2012
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