Purple Mort Bleu Butterfly Eryphanis polyxena

Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly topside
One of the "Mort Bleu" species of butterflies which are large with iridescent mauve or purple-blue wings on the topside; the "Owl" Butterfly is another ("the Cocoa Mort Bleu"). The Eryphanis (Purple Mort Bleu) species of butterflies are superficially similar to the Caligo (Owl) species. They are sometimes also called "Owls."
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
The map-like pattern and "eye-spots" on the closed wings are variable. There are always two small hearts on the trailing edge of the forewing.
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly with Owl
The Purple Mort Bleu is a little smaller than the Owl Butterfly.
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
Like the Owl, the Purple Mort Bleu rarely opens its wings at rest. This one with a torn wing shows the beautiful topside and how the colour varies with the light from blue to purple.
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly
More underside variation
Purple Mort Bleu butterfly chrysalis
The chrysalis is like a pea pod.