Blue butterflies are a rare sight to behold in Nature. One reason is that naturally blue occurs extremely rare. The Blue Morpho butterflies are one of the very few naturally occurring living beings that have the color blue.
However, photographer Kelvin Hudson lucked out when he chanced upon a fairytale-like scene. If he did not have his camera with him, then the world would have lost an amazing sight.
The Encounter With The Blue Butterflies
One day Kelvin was walking through a forested area when suddenly, he saw a tree that was partly covered with a cloak of blue. When he took a closer look with his camera, he found it to be a large swarm of blue butterflies.
The majority of the blue butterflies were covering the tree’s trunk. However, there were some smaller groups that were spread out on the branches as well. All in all, the sight was mesmerizing. Kelvin’s photography senses were tingling, and he did not miss the chance to immortalize the image.
The result is an awesome image which is this one below:
One has to be in the right place at the right time to get pictures like this. What’s even rarer is that adult blue morpho butterflies usually spend most of their time on the forest floor or, they hide away in the lower trees and shrubs.
Usually, these blue butterflies fold up their wings to hide the vibrant color when they perch on trees. Their underwings are brown in color. This makes them camouflaged from predators like other insects and birds. However, in extremely rare cases, swarms of them can collectively perch to enjoy the sun’s warmth. Kelvin just happened to stumble upon such a scene.
If you like the pictures, then you can also get them in the form of an archival signed print. All you have to do is email Kelvin Hudson directly. He will have all the information about how you can acquire one.
You can find more info on Kelvin’s website, Instagram, and Facebook page.
The Blue Morpho Butterfly
The blue butterflies (or, blue Morpho butterflies) are native to South America[2]. They are one of the biggest butterflies that exist. Their wingspan can be anywhere between 5 to 8 inches. These blue butterflies only live for about 115 days.
Their wings have microscopic scales that reflect light and give them a vivid bright blue hue. However, their underside is brown which lets them hide from predators more easily. When these blue butterflies fly, the alternating brown and blue of their wings can make them seem as if they are appearing and disappearing. The wings of males have a brighter color and are also broader than the female members.
Like other butterflies and caterpillars, their diets are plant-based as well. The caterpillars chew various kinds of leaves with a preference for plants from the family of peas. When it becomes a butterfly, it drinks wet mud, fungi, tree sap, decomposing animals’ fluids, and rotting fruit juice. Their legs have sensors that let them taste fruits. Their antennae are a combination of a nose and tongue which they use for “taste-smelling” the air.
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Where They Are Found
The Blue Morphos are natural residents of Latin America’s tropical forests between Mexico and Colombia. Adult blue butterflies spend most of their time keeping their wings folded, hiding in the darker forest understory. But, during mating season, they fly everywhere.
Humans usually get to see them along streams and clearings where their wings are even more vivid. Pilots flying overhead have sometimes seen large swarms of these blue butterflies on top of trees basking in the sun’s warmth. But Kelvin’s photograph remains one of the rarer sightings of a swarm from the ground level.
The Threats They Face
The biggest threat the blue butterflies face is humanity. Habitat fragmentation caused by the deforestation of tropical forests is wreaking havoc on Blue Morpho populations.
Moreover, collectors and artists highly prize these blue butterflies because of their vivid beauty. As a result, there are instances of humans trying to catch them en-masse and later on display them in their collections.
Birds such as the flycatcher and the jacamar are natural predators of the Blue Morphos.
More Facts About The Blue Morpho Butterflies:
- These butterflies are poisonous. This means that just touching or holding them is not harmful, but don’t go about ingesting anything it touches[3].
- There are 39 types of Morpho butterflies. Some are green while some very rare ones are white with a purple tint.
- The blue butterflies have a range of meanings: from granting wishes to being wicked spirits. Some believe they also symbolize happiness, joy, and spontaneous good luck.
- Be extra careful if you want to touch their wings. It is very easy to knock some of the scales off. Once knocked off, they cannot be regenerated.
Keep Reading: A Talented Photographer Captured the Rare Scene of a Pod of Ten 40 ft Long Sperm Whales Sleeping Vertically
Sources
- “Photographer Captures Magical Sight of Brilliant Blue Butterflies Clustered on a Tree.” My Modern Met. Sara Barnes. July 28, 2020.
- “Blue Morpho Butterfly” Rainforest Alliance. September 2, 2012.
- “15 Blue Morpho Butterfly Facts: Iridescent Gem of Ecuador’s Amazon (All 24 Species)” StoryTeller.Travel. October 8, 2021.
