The wingspan of the blue morpho butterfly ranges from 7.5–20 cm (3.0–7.9 in).

The entire blue morpho butterfly life cycle, from egg to adult is only 115 days.

[6] Known larval food plants are Leguminosae (Arachis hypogaea, Dioclea wilsonii, Inga species, Lonchocarpus, Machaerium cobanense, Machaerium salvadorense, Machaerium seemannii, Medicago sativa, Mucuna mutisiana, Pithecellobium, Pterocarpus rohrii, Mucuna urens) and Bignoniaceae (Paragonia pyramidata).

Morpho peleides drinks the juices from rotting fruits for food.

The larvae of Morpho peleides butterflies are occasional cannibals.