光(guang)明女(nv)神閃蝶(die)(學名:Morpho Helena)前足相當退化,短小無爪。前翅(chi)R脈5條(tiao),常(chang)共柄(bing)。卵(luan)半圓球形(xing)。幼(you)蟲(chong)頭上(shang)有突起,體節(jie)上(shang)有枝刺,腹足趾鉤1至3序中(zhong)列式。蛹為垂蛹。雄閃蝶(die)的翅(chi)上(shang)有絢麗的金屬(shu)般(ban)光(guang)澤,這(zhe)與其翅(chi)膀上(shang)有各(ge)種形(xing)狀的鱗片有關(guan),閃蝶(die)的鱗片結構復雜,細微結構是由多層立(li)體的柵欄構成(cheng),當光(guang)線照射(she)到(dao)翅(chi)上(shang)時,會產生(sheng)(sheng)折射(she)、反射(she)和繞射(she)等(deng)物理現(xian)象。翅(chi)的底面具有成(cheng)列的眼狀斑紋。生(sheng)(sheng)活史包括了卵(luan)、幼(you)蟲(chong)、蛹、成(cheng)蟲(chong)四個(ge)期,卵(luan)呈半球形(xing),幼(you)蟲(chong)一般(ban)群集生(sheng)(sheng)活,主(zhu)要取食豆科植物,分布于南美洲北部(bu)的熱(re)帶雨林。
在新熱帶界的熱帶雨林(lin)(lin)出沒(mei),如亞馬遜原始森林(lin)(lin),也(ye)適應如南美干燥的落(luo)葉林(lin)(lin)和次生林(lin)(lin)林(lin)(lin)地。飛行迅速。雄蝶有領域性,翅膀反(fan)射出的金(jin)屬光(guang)澤是向其(qi)它雄蝶表示(shi)其(qi)領域范(fan)圍。
光明女神(shen)閃(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)大型華(hua)麗,翅(chi)(chi)(chi)展75~100毫米(mi),兩性(xing)異形,雄(xiong)蝶(die)(die)具閃(shan)(shan)亮(liang)的(de)金屬(shu)般的(de)藍色(se)光澤(ze)(ze)(ze),綠白色(se)光澤(ze)(ze)(ze),橙褐(he)色(se)光澤(ze)(ze)(ze)。觸角細長,約(yue)是前翅(chi)(chi)(chi)長度的(de)三(san)分之一(yi)。腹部較(jiao)短,翅(chi)(chi)(chi)底(di)面褐(he)色(se),有(you)條紋及成列(lie)的(de)眼(yan)斑,但眼(yan)上(shang)無毛(mao),雄(xiong)性(xing)前足跗節上(shang)張毛(mao),后翅(chi)(chi)(chi)中室開式。閃(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)閃(shan)(shan)光的(de)原(yuan)因是蝴蝶(die)(die)翅(chi)(chi)(chi)膀上(shang)密布(bu)著含有(you)多(duo)種(zhong)色(se)素顆(ke)粒的(de)鱗片,鱗片上(shang)微細的(de)色(se)彩脊紋越密,產(chan)(chan)生的(de)閃(shan)(shan)光也越強。閃(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)的(de)鱗片在結構上(shang)則更為復雜,當光線照射(she)(she)到翅(chi)(chi)(chi)膀上(shang)時,會(hui)產(chan)(chan)生折射(she)(she)、反射(she)(she)和繞(rao)射(she)(she)等物理現象,在光學(xue)作用下產(chan)(chan)生了彩虹(hong)般的(de)絢麗色(se)彩。
該物種是美麗而夢幻般的蝴蝶,整(zheng)個翅(chi)(chi)(chi)面猶如蔚藍的大海(hai)上涌(yong)起朵朵白色(se)(se)的浪花,其顏(yan)色(se)(se)及(ji)花紋非常壯觀,被譽為世界上美麗的蝴蝶。全身呈紫藍色(se)(se),其前(qian)翅(chi)(chi)(chi)兩端的藍色(se)(se)有深藍、湛藍、淺藍不斷的變化,整(zheng)個翅(chi)(chi)(chi)面猶如藍色(se)(se)的天空鑲嵌一(yi)串亮麗的光環,顏(yan)色(se)(se)美麗,體(ti)態婀娜,展翅(chi)(chi)(chi)如孔雀開屏,故有“女神”之說。
日間活(huo)動,飛翔敏捷(jie),和其他鱗(lin)翅(chi)目昆蟲(chong)一(yi)樣,也是(shi)完全變態。生(sheng)活(huo)史包括(kuo)了卵、幼蟲(chong)、蛹、成蟲(chong)四個期。它們的卵呈半(ban)球形,幼蟲(chong)具有明顯的彩色“毛(mao)叢”,且通常(chang)有一(yi)個尾叉,類似眼蝶的幼蟲(chong)。幼蟲(chong)一(yi)般群集生(sheng)活(huo),取食各種攀緣植物,特別是(shi)豆科(ke)植物,若遇(yu)到危險,會從體內的腺體發出刺激性(xing)氣(qi)味,驅走捕食者。
蛹的頭部和翅(chi)上有各(ge)種突起,屬(shu)于帶蛹。寄主多為堇菜科、忍冬科、楊柳科、桑科、榆科、麻(ma)類、大戟科、茜草科等(deng)植物。成蟲不好(hao)訪(fang)花(hua),常以吸食墜落的腐果(guo),糞便等(deng)汁液為食。
閃(shan)蝶是完全變態的昆蟲(chong),即一生會經過四個階段:卵、幼蟲(chong)、蛹、成蟲(chong)。
閃蝶卵(luan)一般為半球形,表面有蠟質殼,防(fang)止(zhi)水分蒸發,一端有細孔,是(shi)精子進入的通路。成(cheng)蟲會將(jiang)卵(luan)產于其寄主植物或嫩(nen)芽上(shang),即閃蝶幼(you)蟲會進食(shi)的植物,為幼(you)蟲準備好合適的生長(chang)地(di)點。
閃(shan)蝶幼(you)蟲(chong)(chong)為毛蟲(chong)(chong),孵化出后要吃掉大(da)量植(zhi)物葉子(zi),隨著幼(you)蟲(chong)(chong)生(sheng)長,一般要經過(guo)4至6次蛻皮(pi),幼(you)蟲(chong)(chong)每次脫(tuo)皮(pi)為一齡,并把舊外殼吃掉。
閃(shan)(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)幼(you)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)完全成(cheng)長(chang)后便會停止進食,到(dao)(dao)處爬行著尋找一個適合的(de)(de)結(jie)蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)地方。閃(shan)(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)科的(de)(de)蝴蝶(die)(die)的(de)(de)蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)是頭下(xia)尾上的(de)(de)懸吊著,稱為(wei)懸蛹(yong)(yong)(yong);它們(men)會把身體拉長(chang)量(liang)度周圍(wei)的(de)(de)空間是否足(zu)夠破蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)羽化時(shi)順利展開翅膀。當找到(dao)(dao)結(jie)蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)的(de)(de)地方時(shi),閃(shan)(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)會在該處吐絲,將身體末端(duan)固定(ding)在絲上,閃(shan)(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)幼(you)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)會在葉子背面隱蔽的(de)(de)地方結(jie)蛹(yong)(yong)(yong),然(ran)(ran)后逐(zhu)漸變硬,成(cheng)為(wei)前(qian)蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)。約一天(tian)后,前(qian)蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)脫去幼(you)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)外(wai)皮,露出蝶(die)(die)蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)。蛹(yong)(yong)(yong)內幼(you)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)的(de)(de)器具(ju)會逐(zhu)漸分解,然(ran)(ran)后重新組成(cheng)閃(shan)(shan)(shan)蝶(die)(die)的(de)(de)身體。
閃蝶(die)的(de)成(cheng)蟲(chong)性(xing)成(cheng)熟(shu)后,在蛹中沿著頭(tou)和胸破殼鉆(zhan)出,剛羽化的(de)蝴(hu)蝶(die)翅膀皺褶(zhe)和腹部膨脹(zhang),這時的(de)蝴(hu)蝶(die)無(wu)法(fa)躲避天(tian)敵,翅膀展開后,閃蝶(die)就可以飛翔了,閃蝶(die)的(de)前后翅不同步扇動(dong),成(cheng)蟲(chong)以腐爛果實的(de)汁液為食物(wu)。