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Research And Describe Blue Morpho Or Morpho Peleieds
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Required components:
Primary Focus: selected invertebrate.
Description: include full taxonomy of the organism, level of organization, development, and anatomy.
Ecology: include feeding modes, role in the ecosystem, survival and reproductive methods, how it interacts with other organisms.
References: a minimum of five in MLA format.
Format: ten pages including a cover pages; double-spaced; 12 point sans serif font.
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Morpho Peleieds/Blue Morpho
In 1807, Johan Fabricius established Morpho genus to incorporate one of the largely known sets of Neotropical insects (Angel, 27). The Morpho organisms have from early times been identified with the big size and distinctive blue colors. Limited numbers of individuals forget their first view of the big dazzling blue morpho peleieds noticeably hovering in a forest, or solely conserved as samples in a collection. This paper discusses the Morpho peleieds butterfly to determine it features such as its taxonomy and ecology.
Taxonomy of Morpho Peleieds
Morpho Peleieds belongs to the butterflies and moths order known as Lepidoptera, insect class, and phylum of arthropods. Morpho peleieds is a big glittering Neotropical butterfly, which can simply glare or camouflage itself from several organisms due to its wings double coloration. This species have a wing width of 12.7-15.5cm (Angel, 28). The dorsal part of the wings contains a metallic blue surface color bordered with white dots and a black ensemble; the ventral part has different decorations which are brown with eyespots. The two scale layers that adorn the wing cause the coloration of the wings. As light goes across the tiny lamellae, all wavelengths except those in the blue area are absorbed causing the reflected light to be seen as a radiant blue. A little sexual dimorphism during coloration of wings, size and shape, and the males being smaller than the females, characterize the species. Morpho peleiedes species are largely diversified with over twenty subspecies. Morpho peleiedes insularis (emperor butterfly) is the sole subspecies found in Trinidad & Tobago. This species is also widespread over Paraguay, South America, Mexico, Central America, and prevalent in Trinidad & Tobago (Angel, 35).
Level of Organization and Development
The life cycle of Morpho peleiedes begins with eggs that are small (around 1-2 millimeters in diameter), even, semicircular, and laid on the top part of host plant’s leaf (Young 94). The bright green eggs have a band of little brown dots close to the upper part. The egg phase approximately lasts between seven to sixteen days, according to the subspecies (Young 94). The second phase is the larvae phase that has 5 molts. Every instar of the larvae phase is characterized by feeding at nightfall and dawn. Moreover, the larvae remain immobile when not consuming. Studies reveal that after hatching, the larvae develops beginning 5.25 millimeters to 93 millimeters in measurement during the fifth instar, and other research showed that the larvae can develop up to 74.1 millimeter the final instar (Young 94). However, geographical location and type of subspecies determine the maximum growth size and growth rate. During the initial three molts, the width of the head exceeds the physique thickness as the head shell turns maroon in pigment and concealed with furs. During the initial molts, the physique is a bright green-yellow, reddish purple spots, red and snowy sets of hair tassels. Other white tuft hairs that stretch from the extremes of the body falling near the leaf exterior might enable to mask the maggot by opening the shell. During the fifth molt, the worm has a head with equal size as the body, where the two alter to a brownish coloring. Closely, prior the pupa phase the caterpillar enters a pre-pupa step whereby the whole body turns bright green color. However, hair tassels on the caterpillar’s dorsal part maintains the reddish purple and white color. This state lasts closely three days.
The third stage is pupa step which lasts almost 2 weeks. At this period, the cocoon is egg-shaped and a light green color. Immediately beforehand the arrival of the mature morpho peleieds, the skin membrane of the cocoon turns transparent with the full-grown becoming visible (Angel, 10). The fourth development stage is the mature state where the mature Morpho peleiedes butterfly have a dark and sunny body, lustrous blue wings while the under part of the wings turning brown. Moreover, the wings edges have a dark lining that is thinner in males compared to females. The dark lining has 5 to 6 white parts in the middle, starting at the apex of the forewing, going down.
Anatomy
Morpho peleiedes’ anatomy is similar to that of other insects. They possess two antennae necessary for tasting food and legs for movement and smelling or tasting. Similarly, they use a proboscis to draw the juices from rotten fruits and fluid from trees. Morpho peleiedes also have shimmering wing, which are 7 to 8 inches long with scales (Angel, 11). These scales have edges that mirror the blue light, giving it a beautiful look.
Morpho peleiedes have two round compound eyes, both having of over 17000 ommatidia- separate light receptors having specific microscopic lenses. They function together to give a miscellany sight of the surroundings near them (Angel, 15). Every ommatidium comprises of a cone and a cornea that together function as a lens. At the rear of every cone, a rod exists where light passes to target a collection of two to six sensory tissues; every tissue is receptive to a certain section of the optical spectrum. These types of eyes give them a 360 degrees vision that enable them to see their surroundings all at once without moving their head. Moreover, these species view split sunlight, thus they are able to recognize the sun’s location even when sunlight is partially concealed by the clouds. Therefore, they can relate to the point of the sun and apply that as a compass when hovering about their habitations.
Morpho peleiedes’ thorax comprises three body sections that are joined, creating a chinous protection with flying muscles as well as function as a base part of the legs. Moreover, the thoracic cavity has strong muscles which control of the wings. Morpho peleiedes’ have six duos of legs where every leg’s shin bone contains a subgenual structure which senses and intensifies minor vibrations. Through this structure, the organisms can detect any birds or creatures approaching because of earth vibrations. Its abdomen comprises of a digestive structure, an extensive cylindrical heart, breathing apparatus, and the sexual organs. Moreover, the abdomen’s exoskeleton is subdivided with every segment made of a circle of a tough substance known as chitin (Angel, 16). Bendable tissues join the segments, enabling the abdomen to curve, a requirement for mating as well as egg-laying. The reproduction organs are situated at the bottom of the front. Morpho peleiedes have exclusively shaped genital bodywork where a male correctly fits a female. Females have an ovipositor that releases as well as keeps the fertilized ova. They have spiracles (small holes on the edges of every fragment) via which air moves in and exits the organism. Small pulsing body activities, synchronized with spiracles opening and shutting makes the air to get inside microscopic lung-identical sacks, and then exhaled (Angel, 5).
Morpho peleiedes have a gastrointestinal system where after ingestion and nutrient absorption the waste material is removed from the body via the anus in fluid state or as small fecal pellets. Morpho peleiedes are cold-blooded whereby if exposed to cold weather they cannot fly. If exposed to high temperatures they can dehydrate or die. The species lack an internal mode to regulate body temperature, hence they need to utilize behavioral techniques as an alternative. During cold conditions, the organisms require to increase the temperature of their body before they can soar. They apply a skill termed as back basking, whereby they utilize the dorsal part of the wings as a solar panel to gain warmth and offer them with energy.
Morpho peleiedes have two sets of overlying wings, consisting of a tinny dual membrane with the strength provided by a hollow vein system which stem from the root of the wings (Young 26). The vein arrangement these organisms makes them distinctive from others. The wing membranes are transparent, some partly or totally enclosed with a pollen-like membrane of small colored scales. Every scale comprises a flat plate emerging from the one cell at the base...
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Morpho Peleieds/Blue Morpho
In 1807, Johan Fabricius established Morpho genus to incorporate one of the largely known sets of Neotropical insects (Angel, 27). The Morpho organisms have from early times been identified with the big size and distinctive blue colors. Limited numbers of individuals forget their first view of the big dazzling blue morpho peleieds noticeably hovering in a forest, or solely conserved as samples in a collection. This paper discusses the Morpho peleieds butterfly to determine it features such as its taxonomy and ecology.
Taxonomy of Morpho Peleieds
Morpho Peleieds belongs to the butterflies and moths order known as Lepidoptera, insect class, and phylum of arthropods. Morpho peleieds is a big glittering Neotropical butterfly, which can simply glare or camouflage itself from several organisms due to its wings double coloration. This species have a wing width of 12.7-15.5cm (Angel, 28). The dorsal part of the wings contains a metallic blue surface color bordered with white dots and a black ensemble; the ventral part has different decorations which are brown with eyespots. The two scale layers that adorn the wing cause the coloration of the wings. As light goes across the tiny lamellae, all wavelengths except those in the blue area are absorbed causing the reflected light to be seen as a radiant blue. A little sexual dimorphism during coloration of wings, size and shape, and the males being smaller than the females, characterize the species. Morpho peleiedes species are largely diversified with over twenty subspecies. Morpho peleiedes insularis (emperor butterfly) is the sole subspecies found in Trinidad & Tobago. This species is also widespread over Paraguay, South America, Mexico, Central America, and prevalent in Trinidad & Tobago (Angel, 35).
Level of Organization and Development
The life cycle of Morpho peleiedes begins with eggs that are small (around 1-2 millimeters in diameter), even, semicircular, and laid on the top part of host plant’s leaf (Young 94). The bright green eggs have a band of little brown dots close to the upper part. The egg phase approximately lasts between seven to sixteen days, according to the subspecies (Young 94). The second phase is the larvae phase that has 5 molts. Every instar of the larvae phase is characterized by feeding at nightfall and dawn. Moreover, the larvae remain immobile when not consuming. Studies reveal that after hatching, the larvae develops beginning 5.25 millimeters to 93 millimeters in measurement during the fifth instar, and other research showed that the larvae can develop up to 74.1 millimeter the final instar (Young 94). However, geographical location and type of subspecies determine the maximum growth size and growth rate. During the initial three molts, the width of the head exceeds the physique thickness as the head shell turns maroon in pigment and concealed with furs. During the initial molts, the physique is a bright green-yellow, reddish purple spots, red and snowy sets of hair tassels. Other white tuft hairs that stretch from the extremes of the body falling near the leaf exterior might enable to mask the maggot by opening the shell. During the fifth molt, the worm has a head with equal size as the body, where the two alter to a brownish coloring. Closely, prior the pupa phase the caterpillar enters a pre-pupa step whereby the whole body turns bright green color. However, hair tassels on the caterpillar’s dorsal part maintains the reddish purple and white color. This state lasts closely three days.
The third stage is pupa step which lasts almost 2 weeks. At this period, the cocoon is egg-shaped and a light green color. Immediately beforehand the arrival of the mature morpho peleieds, the skin membrane of the cocoon turns transparent with the full-grown becoming visible (Angel, 10). The fourth development stage is the mature state where the mature Morpho peleiedes butterfly have a dark and sunny body, lustrous blue wings while the under part of the wings turning brown. Moreover, the wings edges have a dark lining that is thinner in males compared to females. The dark lining has 5 to 6 white parts in the middle, starting at the apex of the forewing, going down.
Anatomy
Morpho peleiedes’ anatomy is similar to that of other insects. They possess two antennae necessary for tasting food and legs for movement and smelling or tasting. Similarly, they use a proboscis to draw the juices from rotten fruits and fluid from trees. Morpho peleiedes also have shimmering wing, which are 7 to 8 inches long with scales (Angel, 11). These scales have edges that mirror the blue light, giving it a beautiful look.
Morpho peleiedes have two round compound eyes, both having of over 17000 ommatidia- separate light receptors having specific microscopic lenses. They function together to give a miscellany sight of the surroundings near them (Angel, 15). Every ommatidium comprises of a cone and a cornea that together function as a lens. At the rear of every cone, a rod exists where light passes to target a collection of two to six sensory tissues; every tissue is receptive to a certain section of the optical spectrum. These types of eyes give them a 360 degrees vision that enable them to see their surroundings all at once without moving their head. Moreover, these species view split sunlight, thus they are able to recognize the sun’s location even when sunlight is partially concealed by the clouds. Therefore, they can relate to the point of the sun and apply that as a compass when hovering about their habitations.
Morpho peleiedes’ thorax comprises three body sections that are joined, creating a chinous protection with flying muscles as well as function as a base part of the legs. Moreover, the thoracic cavity has strong muscles which control of the wings. Morpho peleiedes’ have six duos of legs where every leg’s shin bone contains a subgenual structure which senses and intensifies minor vibrations. Through this structure, the organisms can detect any birds or creatures approaching because of earth vibrations. Its abdomen comprises of a digestive structure, an extensive cylindrical heart, breathing apparatus, and the sexual organs. Moreover, the abdomen’s exoskeleton is subdivided with every segment made of a circle of a tough substance known as chitin (Angel, 16). Bendable tissues join the segments, enabling the abdomen to curve, a requirement for mating as well as egg-laying. The reproduction organs are situated at the bottom of the front. Morpho peleiedes have exclusively shaped genital bodywork where a male correctly fits a female. Females have an ovipositor that releases as well as keeps the fertilized ova. They have spiracles (small holes on the edges of every fragment) via which air moves in and exits the organism. Small pulsing body activities, synchronized with spiracles opening and shutting makes the air to get inside microscopic lung-identical sacks, and then exhaled (Angel, 5).
Morpho peleiedes have a gastrointestinal system where after ingestion and nutrient absorption the waste material is removed from the body via the anus in fluid state or as small fecal pellets. Morpho peleiedes are cold-blooded whereby if exposed to cold weather they cannot fly. If exposed to high temperatures they can dehydrate or die. The species lack an internal mode to regulate body temperature, hence they need to utilize behavioral techniques as an alternative. During cold conditions, the organisms require to increase the temperature of their body before they can soar. They apply a skill termed as back basking, whereby they utilize the dorsal part of the wings as a solar panel to gain warmth and offer them with energy.
Morpho peleiedes have two sets of overlying wings, consisting of a tinny dual membrane with the strength provided by a hollow vein system which stem from the root of the wings (Young 26). The vein arrangement these organisms makes them distinctive from others. The wing membranes are transparent, some partly or totally enclosed with a pollen-like membrane of small colored scales. Every scale comprises a flat plate emerging from the one cell at the base...
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