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Common Morpho
Morpho helenor
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumArthropoda (Arthropods)
- ClassInsecta (Insects)
- OrderLepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- FamilyNymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- GenusMorpho (Morphos)
- SpeciesMorpho helenor (Common Morpho)
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
5 Verified sightings at Itatiaia National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,103 In all 37 parks
February Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
Completed
About the Common Morpho
Morpho helenor, also known as the Helenor blue morpho or common blue morpho, is a Neotropical butterfly found throughout Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina. It is a species group that may or may not be several species. Many subspecies have been described.
The larvae of subspecies Morpho helenor achillaena have been recorded as feeding on Genipa americana, Inga, Machaerium, Platymiscium, Wisteria, Trifolium, Arachis and Robinia. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Morpho in Itatiaia National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santos | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | San José | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Caracas | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | |
| 4 | San Salvador | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | |
| 5 | Rio de Janeiro | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 6 | São Paulo | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 7 | Campinas | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 8 | Belo Horizonte | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 9 | Medellín | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Closest Relatives at Itatiaia National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Common Morpho in Itatiaia National Park?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Morpho sighting in Itatiaia National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 41st most-seen of the 60 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Common Morpho in Itatiaia National Park?
February
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Morpho in Itatiaia National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March–September and December, the lowest months. That is one of Itatiaia National Park's wettest months, with about 290 mm of rain against 25 mm in July.
What time of day is best to see a Common Morpho?
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common 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.
Is Itatiaia National Park the best place to see a Common Morpho?
29th of 37
Of the 37 parks where we can rate Common Morpho sightings, Itatiaia National Park ranks 29th at about 10%. The best odds are in Rincón de la Vieja National Park (Costa Rica, about 50%), Pico Bonito National Park (Honduras, about 40%) and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Costa Rica, about 30%). All parks ranked.
Where does the Common Morpho sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Morpho is recorded against all the insects logged in Itatiaia National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
