A striking addition: a rare tropical butterfly has appeared in Botanical Garden of KBSU
One of the most beautiful butterflies in the world, Morpho peleides, has been born at the Botanical Garden of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov. Murat Bakhov, Director of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University Botanical Garden, explains why the bright blue color of its wings is an optical illusion, what to feed this finicky guest, and how long its lifespan will last.
Morpho peleides’ habitat extends from Mexico to Colombia. Its velvety wingspan can reach 20 centimeters. But its most distinctive feature is its color.
«The bright blue, almost neon hue of Morpho peleides’s outstretched wings is not the result of pigments; the butterfly doesn’t have any,» explains Murat Bakhov. «Thousands of transparent scales on the wings act like a prism: light hits them, refracts, and reflects, creating an interference effect.»
When the butterfly is in flight, the upper surface of its wings, which is a bright blue, is clearly visible. However, nature has endowed the Morpho not only with the ability to attract attention but also with the mastery of concealment. When the butterfly folds its wings, the world sees their underside—a tawny brown with distinct concentric «eyespots.»
«When resting, it resembles a dry leaf or tree bark, covered with eye spots. This is classic camouflage. In flight, its wings flash brightly as a signal to a mate or to disorient a predator. Once it lands on a branch, it disappears.»
The species received its Latin name, Morpho peleides, in honor of the ancient Greek hero Achilles Peleides (son of Peleus and Thetis). The generic name Morpho echoes the name of Morpheus, the god of dreams: a hint at how difficult it is to believe in the reality of this «flying sapphire.»
The appearance of this butterfly at KBSU is the result of the painstaking work of the Botanical Garden staff. The pupae arrived in Nalchik from the Philippines, and specialists created an ideal microclimate for them, typical of tropical forests.
«We are currently waiting for seven more pupae to hatch in the greenhouse,» the garden’s director explains. «Interestingly, our pupae are different colors, and judging by the shades, the wings of the future butterflies will vary in intensity.»
Unlike most diurnal butterflies, Morpho peleides shows little interest in flower nectar. In the wild, they prefer the juice of overripe fruit. However, at the Botanical Garden, the visitor was offered a special treat.
«We feed it honey syrup—we dilute natural honey with water,» Murat Bakhov explains. «The butterfly itself extends its proboscis, and as soon as it curls it back up, it’s full.»
The entire life cycle of the Morpho peleides—from egg to adult—is approximately 115 days. However, the butterfly itself has a short lifespan: from a few days to three weeks.
Such specimens are rare even in large collections around the world. You can see this amazing butterfly and explore the collection of tropical plants and endemic species of the Caucasus on a tour of the university’s Botanical Garden.