The Butterfly Conservatory: Butterflies Alive in Winter
Date: December 10, 2016-May 29, 2017
This seasonal exhibit is a must-see at the museum, as you escape the
winter chill to walk through a tropical oasis filled with colorful
ed with colorful
This exhibition, an annual favorite, features up to 500 live,
free-flying tropical butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
The butterflies are housed in a vivarium that approximates their natural
habitat, includes live flowering plants that serve as nectar sources,
and features controlled artificial light, temperature, and humidity.
Featured species include iridescent blue morpho butterflies, striking
scarlet swallowtails, and large owl butterflies. Text panels located
immediately outside the vivarium offer information about the evolution
and life cycle of butterflies, including explanations of mimicry,
diversity, and butterflies’ important role in conservation.