
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 ~60% in a week ~90%
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 Serra da Canastra 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 Serra da Canastra National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Common Morpho in Serra da Canastra National Park?
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Morpho sighting in Serra da Canastra National Park on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 6 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Common Morpho in Serra da Canastra National Park?
January, March and October–November
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Morpho in Serra da Canastra National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May–September and December, the lowest months. Those are among Serra da Canastra National Park's wettest months, with about 210 mm of rain a month against almost none 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 Serra da Canastra National Park the best place to see a Common Morpho?
8th of 37
Of the 37 parks where we can rate Common Morpho sightings, Serra da Canastra National Park ranks 8th at about 30%. 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 Serra da Canastra National Park (9 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.



