The Genus Morpho - Blue Morpho Butterflies of the World
The Genus Morpho
The Genus Morpho - Blue Morpho Butterflies of the World
Morpho cypris Butterfly

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Morpho rhetenor
Cramer, 1775


Morpho rhetenor rhetenor
Guyana, 2001
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Same Data VERSO

 


Morpho rhetenor rhetenor f. monicae
Obidos, Brazil 1998
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Morpho rhetenor rhetenor f. anceps VERSO
Obidos, Brazil 1998
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Morpho rhetenor rhetenor f._sauteri
Guyana, September 2002
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Same Data, VERSO

 


Morpho rhetenor adcacica
Santa Cruz, Bolivia 1987
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler

Same Data, VERSO


Morpho rhetenor cacica
Iquitos, Peru 1999

Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Same Data, VERSO


Morpho rhetenor cacica f. paradisiaca
Satipo, Peru, 1989
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Same Data, VERSO

 


Morpho rhetenor cacica f. demitellata?
Iquitos, Peru 2001
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Same Data, VERSO

 


Morpho rhetenor helena
Rio Huallaga, Peru, 2001
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler

Same Data, VERSO

 

Morpho rhetenor helena f. greardi
Huallaga, Peru, 1995

Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler

Same Data, VERSO

Morpho rhetenor augustinae f. dickseei
Tucupita,Venezuela 1929 ex Collection  Le Moult
Photo Courtesy James Passafero

Same Data, VERSO

 

Morpho rhetenor augustinae f. semicypris
Tucupita,Venezuela 1928 ex Collection  Le Moult
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler

Same Data, VERSO

 


Morpho rhetenor augustinae f. talboti
Orinoco Delta, Venezuela, 1929 ex. Collection Le Moult

  Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Same Data, VERSO

Morpho rhetenor rhetenor Female
Guyana, 2001

Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler

Same Data, VERSO

Morpho rhetenor rhetenor f. paramacus Female
Guyana 1999

Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler

Same Data, VERSO


Morpho rhetenor cacica Female
Iquitos, Peru 1981
Photo Courtesy Oliver Schäffler


Same Data, VERSO

Geographic Distribution: Amazon Basin and major tributaries = “Amazonia”
The various populations and races of this species cover much of South America including, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and possibly Uruguay, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. All populations seem to occur east of the Andes and little if any information suggests that this species reaches the Pacific.

Flight Times: Assumed to be all months of the year (peak months variable)

Status: Most populations seem to be secure. (NOTE: Except M. r. augustinae) Most populations are offered at least limited protection in the countries of origin!

Described Subspecies:

Morpho rhetenor rhetenor  Westwood, 1851
Synonyms:    = M. rhetenor eusebes
= M. rhetenor tapajoz 
= M. rhetenor fournierae
= M. rhetenor subtusmurina
  Described Forms:     Male Forms:
- anceps Le Moult & Real, 1962 (Pale Verso)
- integribasalis Le Moult & Real, 1962 (no pale spots in the Verso forewing cell)
- laothoe Tarel, 1928
- monicae, Tarel, 1932 (Blush Green)
- persimilis Le Moult. & Real, 1962
- pseudoaugustinae Le Moult, 1931
- pseudodickseei Le Moult, 1931
- pseudolesoudieri Le Moult, 1931
- pseudorosenbergi Le Moult, 1931
- rosenbergi Le Moult, 1931
- sauteri Le Moult & Real, 1962 (Very Dark Verso)
- simillima Le Moult & Real, 1962
- subcacica Le Moult, 1927
- subrosenbergi Le Moult, 1931

Female Forms:
- coeruleosquama Le Moult, 1931
- vidua Le Moult & Real, 1962
- elata Le Moult & Real, 1962
- paramacas Le Moult, 1931

Geographic Distribution: Amazon Basin and major tributaries = “Amazonia"
The nominate populations and forms of this species cover much of South America including, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and possibly Uruguay, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.  All populations seem to occur east of the Andes and little if any information suggests that this species reaches the Pacific.  There are other subspecies, the distributions of which are peripheral to the geographic range of the nominate race (incl. the Orinoco delta, sub-Andean forests and river basins)
Flight Times: Assumed to be all months of the year (peak months - variable)
Status: Most populations seem to be secure. Most populations are offered at least limited protection in the countries of origin.
Morpho rhetenor agustinae  Le Cerf, 1925
Synonyms:    = M. diana Dixey
Described Forms:     form albiconjuncta Le Moult & Real, 1962
 form argoti Le Moult, 1926
 form dickseei Le Moult, 1926
 form lesourdieri Le Moult, 1926
 form rothschildi Le Moult, 1927
 form sagittigera Le Moult & Real, 1962
 form semicypris Le Moult, 1926
 form semirhetenor Le Moult, 1926
 form talboti Le Moult, 1931
 form unicolor Le Moult, 1931
Range: Most information available, based on collected material, suggests this form to be restricted to the Orinoco Delta of Venezuela with most specimens bearing the locality data of “Tucupita”.
Flight Times: UNKNOWN
Status: Much of the original range has been developed; in the last several decades, pollution and urbanization have devastated the delta region. This race has always been very restricted geographically, therefore, the populations are considered extremely vulnerable. Some believe it to be extinct and specimens have not been collected in many years. The undeveloped surrounding areas of the delta may hold some evidence of its continued existence.
Morpho rhetenor adcacica nov. subsp. (Patrick Blandin)
Range: Bolivia (Chapare & Ichilo Provinces)
Status: UNKNOWN
Morpho rhetenor cacica Staudinger, 1875
Synonyms:    = Morpho rhetenor columbianus Kruger, 1924
= Morpho rhetenor equatenor
Le Moult & Real, 1962
Described Forms:    - paradisiaca Le Moult & Real, 1962
- sybilla Weber, 1951
- demitellata Le Moult & Real, 1962 (described as a form of Ssp. helena)
Range: This race occurs along the eastern slopes of the Andes (sub-Andean forests and river basins in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia).
Flight Times: Assumed to be all months of the year (peak months - variable)
Status: Most populations seem to be secure. Most populations are offered at least limited protection in the countries of origin!
Morpho rhetenor helena Staudinger, 1890
Synonyms:    = Morpho rhetenor chrysides Fruhstorfer, 1912
Described Forms:    Male Forms:
- defecta Le Moult & Real, 1962
- demissa Stichel, 1936
- extincta Michael,?
- greardi Le Moult & Real, 1962
- inka Niepelt, 1931 (ind. f.)
- reducta Michael, ?

Female Forms:
- boveyi Le Moult & Real, 1962
- harrisia Blandin, 1968

Range: This race is restricted to the Huallaga River Basin of Peru.  Populations of helena are flanked to the north and south by populations of cacica and to the east by populations of the nominate rhetenor. It has been suggested that helena may be a distinct species, however, more information is needed. This population does seem to blend with surrounding subspecies, as helena traits are often seen in adjacent cacica and rhetenor populations (increased white in the discal cells).
Flight Times: Assumed to be all months of the year (Peak Times Sept-February)
Status: Most populations seem to be secure. Most populations are offered limited protection in Peru (export is legal but restricted).

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