A little bit about the Butterfly House…

The Butterfly House opened in 1997 and is home to hundreds of native free-flying butterflies. Within the 2,500 sq ft greenhouse, there are many species of butterflies, birds, and native and tropical plants. This environment provides a unique opportunity to observe butterfly behavior up close and relationships between insects and plants.

Rules

1. Please don’t touch the butterflies.
• Butterflies have very delicate wings that are covered in powdery scales. Even though they won’t die immediately after touching them, it is possible to damage the wings and decrease their lifespan.
2. Please do not pick the flowers. They are food for the butterflies.
3. No running, pushing, horseplay, etc.

Interpretive Signs

Throughout the Butterfly House there are interpretive signs. Be sure to have your students read the signs or please read/interpret the signs for them. They are packed with great information and may answer most of the students questions. Two signs also display the pictures, names, and information of common butterflies you will see in the Butterfly House.

The Butterflies

Where do the butterflies come from?
A few butterflies are raised on host plants in the Butterfly house. The majority of our butterflies are bought from Butterfly Farms. They are shipped here as pupae (chrysalids) and placed inside the butterfly house where they will emerge and live out their lives.

What is the Butterfly life cycle?

egg > caterpillar (larva) > chrysalis (pupa) > adult