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Morpho epistrophus

Morpho epistrophus

Bandera Argentina

Family: Nymphalidae
Order: Lepidoptera
Class: Insecta
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Records from Uruguay


Description


Is a majestic and large lepidopteran belonging to the Nymphalidae family, easily recognized by its impressive wingspan that ranges from 90 to 110 millimeters. Unlike most of its congeneric relatives known for iridescent metallic blues, this taxon possesses a distinctive pearly-white to translucent pale-blue coloration. The margins of both the forewings and hindwings are adorned with a conspicuous row of circular eyespots or ocelli, featuring dark outer rings, yellow borders, and light-blue pupils, which serve to deflect predatory attacks away from the vital body parts. Its slender body is dark on the dorsal surface and pale grey underneath, complemented by thin, clubbed antennae.

Geographical distribution: This species is endemic to the central-eastern regions of South America. Its geographic range extends across southeastern and southern Brazil (from Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro south to Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay, almost the entirety of Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, where its southernmost populations are found along the gallery forests of the Río de la Plata in the Buenos Aires province.

Habitat: Primarily frequents gallery forests, riparian woodlands, subtropical deciduous forests, and humid coastal scrublands. It can also be found in mature urban parks, botanical gardens, and ecological reserves where native flora is preserved, requiring microclimates characterized by high humidity, canopy shade, and the strict presence of its specific larval host plants.

Feeding: During the larval stage, the caterpillars are highly specialized herbivores, feeding exclusively on the leaves of host trees such as the coronillo (Scutia buxifolia), the cockspur coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli), and various species of wild figs (Ficus spp.). As adults, they do not visit flowers for nectar; instead, their mouthparts are adapted to feed on fermenting fruits, oozing tree sap, mineral-rich damp soil, and other decomposing organic matter.

Behavior: Exhibits a slow, sailing, and undulating flight pattern, often gliding effortlessly through the forest understory and canopy. It is strictly diurnal, actively flying during the warmest hours of sunny days. The caterpillars are highly gregarious, forming tightly packed clusters on the trunks of their host plants during the day to deter predators and thermoregulate, before dispersing to feed collectively at night.

Reproduction: The reproductive cycle begins when the female oviposits clusters of spherical, pale-green eggs on the underside of host plant leaves. Upon hatching, the highly aposematic caterpillars display striking crimson, yellow, and black patterns covered in urticating hairs that signal their unpalatability. After completing several larval instars, the caterpillar pupates into a pendant, vivid-green chrysalis attached to a branch. Metamorphosis concludes with the emergence of the adult butterfly during the warm seasons of spring and summer.

Conservation status: Although not globally evaluated by the IUCN, local populations are increasingly threatened by habitat fragmentation, agricultural expansion, and the destruction of native woodlands containing their host plants. In some southern jurisdictions, particularly in Argentina, local governments have declared this butterfly a Municipal Natural Monument to secure the preservation of remaining native forests.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 27/08/2026




Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 479737
  Adult

Cerro Arequita
Lavalleja
Uruguay
01/13/2021
Carlos Crocce
Foto
Photography ID: 435018
  Adult

Laguna del Sauce y alrededores
Maldonado
Uruguay
02/18/2021
Daniela Lowe
Foto
Photography ID: 267019
 
Maldonado
Maldonado
Uruguay
10/28/2014
Emilio Lessa
Foto
Photography ID: 191098
  Larva

Fuerte San Miguel
Rocha
Uruguay
11/09/2012
Luis Alvarez
Foto
Photography ID: 190181
  Adult

Mercedes
Soriano
Uruguay
02/14/2017
Luis Alvarez
Foto
Photography ID: 180674
  Larva

Laguna de Castillos
Rocha
Uruguay
12/11/2016
Luis Mier
Foto
Photography ID: 177990
  Larva

Quebrada de los Cuervos
Treinta y Tres
Uruguay
11/13/2016
Luis Mier
Foto
Photography ID: 177973
  Adult

Arroyo Yerbal grande
Treinta y Tres
Uruguay
02/08/2015
Luis Mier
Foto
Photography ID: 173639
  Larva

Mercedes
Soriano
Uruguay
09/26/2014
Luis Alvarez
Foto
Photography ID: 144777
  Adult

El Pinar
Canelones
Uruguay
01/05/2015
Mauricio Silvera



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Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
137277318/02/2021UruguayMaldonadoEn mi casa, Laguna del Sauce y alrededoresDaniela Lowe
153627813/01/2021UruguayLavallejaMonte de Ombúes, Cerro ArequitaCarlos Crocce
72345025/03/2018UruguayRío NegroBalneario, Las Cañas Fray BentosRodolfo Julio Velazquez
68830523/01/2018UruguayMaldonadoArboretum Lussich3Eduardo Beltrocco
67710316/01/2018UruguayColoniaIsla Timoteo DomínguezMauro Carballo
54212614/02/2017UruguaySorianoMercedesLuis Alvarez
51563811/12/2016UruguayRochaLaguna de CastillosLuis Mier
50918913/11/2016UruguayTreinta y TresQuebrada de los CuervosLuis Mier
50917008/02/2015UruguayTreinta y TresPaso del Yerbal, Arroyo Yerbal grandeLuis Mier
41996905/01/2015UruguayCanelonesEl PinarMauricio Silvera
Page 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Morpho epistrophus – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 23/09/2026.