When one refers to the blue butterfly, they are usually speaking of the Morpho butterfly which is a member of the genus morpho that holds over 80 species. These butterflies are indigenous to South and Central America as well as Mexico.

Most of the morpho butterflies have a metallic, iridescent coating and they typically range and colors of blues and greens. The wingspan can be anywhere from 3 inches to 8 inches. The wings actually have very fine scale which reflect the light and give it the iridescent color. In fact, if you look at the butterfly from different angles you will probably see subtleties in the shades of color.

While the blue butterfly, or blue morpho butterfly is the one that most people picture for this species there is also some white morpho species which are quite interesting. They are predominately white but have a gorgeous purple iridescence when the light hits them at a certain angle.

Morpho butterflies live mostly in the shady forest but sometimes will come out to warm themselves in the sun. These butterflies are territorial, and the males will chase away any other butterflies they see as a threat. They like to eat the juices of fermenting fruit, which they actually get drunk on.

The caterpillars that eventually turn into these beautiful butterflies are ugly brown hairy things that you cannot imagine will become these beautiful winged creatures. In some of the morpho species, the caterpillars are actually cannibalistic.

For morpho butterflies, the blue butterflies are actually more common and today they are raised in commercial breeding programs. The wings are used in making jewelry as they have been since the early 1800's or perhaps earlier. This antique butterfly wing jewelry is actually highly sought after and some of the older examples can be quite costly.