The Animals

Tiny bluish birds that are often seen zipping around the Butterfly House are Purple Honeycreepers. They are often mistaken for hummingbirds because they are also nectar feeders, but the Purple Honeycreepers are actually not related at all.

A multicolored songbird, a Painted Bunting, also live inside the Butterfly House.

The turtles live in and around the pond in the Butterfly House. The larger turtles are Red-Eared Sliders and the smaller turtles are Musk turtles. In the pond, you will also see brightly colored fish called Tropical Koi.

The Plants

Inside the Butterfly House are numerous native and tropical plants. These plants can be placed in three general categories: nectar plants, host plants, and ornamental plants. We have numerous species of butterfly nectar plants. Butterflies drink nectar with their long straw-like proboscis. This provides the nutrients butterflies need to live. Host plants are plants butterflies lay their eggs on and caterpillars eat. The Butterfly House also has quite a few ornamental plants that are interesting and worth enjoying such as the Bird of Paradise and Vanilla Orchid.

Before you leave did you see…
• The pond with tropical Koi, Musk turtles, and Red-eared sliders?
• The emergence boxes with butterfly chrysalids?
• The observation beehive?
• The caterpillar crossing pagoda with live eggs and caterpillars?
• The Arthropod Exhibit with mounted Arthropods and live Giant Jungle Cockroaches, Emperor Scorpions, and Crayfish?