Fresh Blue, Pt. 2 - _TNY_6441
There are at least 29 species of blue morpho butterflies - plus quite a few sub-species as well.
This one is known as the blue-banded morpho (Morpho achilles) or sometimes the banded blue morpho.
Morphos have absolutely huge wings compared to body size which enable them to fly slowly in a rather distinct pattern. When being chased by a bird they go for an evasive maneuver before landing and closing up the wings. A predator trying to spot the intense blue colour it was chasing then suddenly can't see it any more!
I have photographed this species before, but the beauty here was probably the freshest specimen I have captured so far.
Luckily for me, I was able to set up and use a tripod for this which further improved the quality of the shot.
For a shot of the same butterfly before it closed its wings and thus displaying the dorsal side (which explains the name) can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51983908732/
Fresh Blue, Pt. 2 - _TNY_6441
There are at least 29 species of blue morpho butterflies - plus quite a few sub-species as well.
This one is known as the blue-banded morpho (Morpho achilles) or sometimes the banded blue morpho.
Morphos have absolutely huge wings compared to body size which enable them to fly slowly in a rather distinct pattern. When being chased by a bird they go for an evasive maneuver before landing and closing up the wings. A predator trying to spot the intense blue colour it was chasing then suddenly can't see it any more!
I have photographed this species before, but the beauty here was probably the freshest specimen I have captured so far.
Luckily for me, I was able to set up and use a tripod for this which further improved the quality of the shot.
For a shot of the same butterfly before it closed its wings and thus displaying the dorsal side (which explains the name) can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51983908732/