Blue Morpho Butterfly (Morpho menelaus), Isla Santay, Ecuador

The Blue Morpho Butterfly (Morpho menelaus) is part of the more than 65 species of the Morpho genus. There are many species of blue butterflies in the world. Although probably none surpasses in beauty and size as the Morpho menelaus. Its striking hues are due to the presence of microscopic scales, which reflect light, and are located on the back of the wings. The Morpho menelaus butterfly, the most representative and well-known of the species of the genus, is a large butterfly with a wingspan that ranges from 15 to 20 cm long. When it closes its wings, to camouflage itself in the surrounding vegetation, what is seen is an ordinary butterfly, with matte brown wings and small drawings simulating eyes.
This butterfly is found in Mexico, Central America and South America, with a huge concentration in the countries of the Amazon basin.
The Blue Morpho butterflies have been decimated by the increasing deforestation in the Amazon regions and by the predation carried out by human beings for decorative purposes.