Morpho peleides is easily recognized by the iridescent blue wings. It is possible to differentiate between other Morpho species and M. peleides due to its dark brown and pupillate eye spots on the underside (Young, A.M. & Muyshondt 1973). It is found from Mexico to Columbia on both the Atlantic and the Pacific side of the continental divide (DeVries 1987), from sea level to 1800 m and can also be found in Trinidad (Urich & Emmel 1991). While M. peleides is sometimes considered a subspecies of Morpho helenor (Constantino & Corredor 2004), mainly there is considered to be two forms of M. peleides, one that is entirely iridescent blue on the top while the other has the blue highly reduced (Young, A.M. & Muyshondt 1973). Eggs of M. peleides are dome shaped and laid singly on the underside of host plant leaves. Host plants could be Mucuna spp. (Fabaceae), Machaeriumspp. (Fabaceae), and Pterocarpus spp. (Fabaceae). Larvae can reach up to 9 cm and are red and yellow. The development to go from an egg to an adult is around 115 days (Young & Muyshondt 1973).Adults are most often found flying along rivers, road ways or any area where some sort of open path has been cut. Their flight has been described as “floppy” and “zigzag” however they are very adept at getting away from predators when necessary (DeVries 1987). Adults feed mostly on rotting fruit but have been seen feeding on mud and carrion as well (Young 1975). Males are most active between early morning until midday while females are most active right around midday.
