Morpho epistrophus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Morpho laertes (formerly Morpho epistrophus), the white morpho or epistrophus white morpho, is a Neotropical butterfly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. The white morpho is native to the Atlantic Forest, where they are distributed throughout a landscape of multiple species.
In 1913, Hans Fruhstorfer wrote in Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde: Group Morpho F. (= Leonte Hbn.). Species with metallic gloss on the upper surface; upper discocellular short, middle strongly convex proximally, lower concave distally, in the obtuse angle directed towards the anterior median. Cell of the forewing considerably widened towards the apex. Uncus and its lateral clasps relatively slender, valve distally spined.
Morpho laertes is the best known of a small group of species that differ from all their allies by its chalky, milky, or silvery white ground-colour. M. laertes may be easily distinguished by the connected chain of narrow, oblong, ocellated median spots on the underside of the hindwing, which have mostly only indistinct white pupils and washed-out yellowish bordering. The bluish white colouring is brought out very well in the figure. The upper surface resembles... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Palmar National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Itatiaia National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buenos Aires | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | São Paulo | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Epistrophus White Morpho sighting in São Paulo on a given day, based on 14 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 402nd most-seen of the 832 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January and February
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Epistrophus White Morpho in São Paulo on a given day, against under 5% in March to December, the lowest months. Those are among São Paulo's wettest months, with about 200 mm of rain a month against 35 mm in August.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Epistrophus White Morpho sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Epistrophus White Morpho sightings, São Paulo ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Buenos Aires (Argentina, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Epistrophus White Morpho is recorded against all the insects logged in São Paulo (14 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
