Butterflies
Butterflies and moths both belong to the order Lepidoptera, and while 180,000 different species have been identified, it is estimated that there may be up to 500,000 worldwide. There are about ten times as many types of moths as there are butterflies. While the most obvious differences between moths and butterflies are in their circadian rhythms (moths nocturnal, butterflies diurnal), and the shape of their antennae (moths feathered, butterflies clubbed), there are some exceptions to these rules, and the two groups are not entirely distinct.
Lepidoptera pollinate flowers when they drink nectar as a source of nutrition, unlike bees who explicitly seek pollen. While this method is less efficient, it is nevertheless effective thanks to the sheer numbers of flowers that a butterfly may visit in a given day. Some plant species rely explicitly on a single species of moth or butterfly for pollination; for instance the Yucca moth is the sole pollinator for the yucca plant (also called soapweed), found across the American Southwest. Because moths are nocturnal, they often pollinate flowers that bloom exclusively at night.
Godart’s Morpho (Morpho godarti) is a rare species of butterfly native to the jungles of Peru and Bolivia. It shares a genus with the more famous Morpho Peleides of Costa Rica, known as the Blue Morpho. Morphos are recognizable for their vivid coloration: often blue, but also sometimes with green, brown, or even white.
DID YOU KNOW: Although Morpho butterflies appear colorful to our eye, it is not the result of pigmentation, but rather an array of microscopic scales that reflect light, causing the alluring iridescence for which they are so admired.
Sadly, because they are so highly coveted for their coloration, there is an active industry collecting their wings for art and jewelry. They also face the threat of deforestation all throughout the Amazon.
Sources
Butterflies as Pollinators
Godart’s Morpho
Morpho Facts