Life cycle of Morpho helenor peleides (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) under natural conditions in a Tropical Dry Forest.

The butterfly Morpho helenor peleides (Kollar) is negatively impacted by the fragmentation of Tropical Dry Forests (TDF), as disturbances in vegetation structure may alter the availability of host plants for immature stages, potentially disrupting its life cycle. To assess variations in the life cycle of this species under natural conditions at the Santuario de Fauna y Flora Los Colorados, a protected area of the Colombian Caribbean Region. A "vivarium" was constructed and stocked with 18 adults of M. helenor peleides. Individuals were provided with a fruit-based diet and monitored daily to document behavioral patterns, and oviposited eggs were collected for further analysis. In total, 187 eggs were obtained and distributed into three treatment groups: control (hermetically sealed and removed from the study site), protected (retained in the study area with predator exclusion), and unprotected (exposed to natural predation). Detailed morphological and morphometric descriptions were performed for eggs, larvae, and pupae. The horizontal life table method was applied to estimate survival and mortality rates across immature stages, net reproductive rate, and mean generation time. Natural enemies were identified to the genus or family levels. Under natural conditions, the complete life cycle of M. helenor peleides lasted 86 d (±2). Higher survival rates were recorded during the egg and early larval instar, except during the fifth instar. The findings underscore the importance of evaluating species-environment interactions under natural conditions, as life history parameters differed markedly from those reported under captive conditions in previous studies.