We studied the oviposition preference, food plants, life cycle of Morpho menelaus occidentalis, and its natural enemies. Three butterfly gardens were constructed with host plants representative of the forest, previously confirmed as suitable for the species. Wild females were collected and introduced into the enclosures, where they were fed fermented ripe bananas. In these environments, oviposition by host species, the number of larvae, and the presence of natural enemies were recorded. In the natural forest, the plants consumed by adults were documented. The life cycle was evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions (24–30 °C, 86% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 14L:10O) using 20 newly emerged larvae fed with Arachis pintoi. Growth, molting, and morphometry of each stage were recorded daily, and a Kaplan–Meier curve was constructed to estimate survival. Adults’ laid ...